Glasnow racks up 9 K's in final tune-up before expected return

There’s no doubt about it: Tyler Glasnow looks ready to return to the Dodgers.

Glasnow excelled in Wednesday’s rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma City, which is expected to be his final rehab outing before returning to the Major Leagues. Glasnow’s last start for the Dodgers came on May 6 before he was placed on the injured list with lower back spasms.

Here’s what to know about Glasnow’s fourth and likely final rehab start.

How did he perform?

Glasnow pitched 5 1/3 innings on the road against Sugar Land, the Astros’ Triple-A affiliate, throwing 54 of his 77 pitches for strikes. He allowed one run on one hit and one walk while striking out nine.

The outing was a highly successful one for Glasnow, who had been slated to throw five innings or 75 pitches on Wednesday. In his previous rehab outing on Friday, he tossed 3 2/3 hitless innings with eight strikeouts.

After departing the game with one out and a man on first base in the sixth inning, Glasnow was charged with a run when Oklahoma City reliever Paul Gervase allowed a double and an RBI groundout.

Glasnow averaged 95.5 mph on his four-seam fastball, just a hair above his 95.3 mph average in the Majors, and 95.4 mph on his sinker (just below his 95.7 mph average). He maxed out at 96.9 mph on his four-seamer and 97.2 mph on his sinker. The righty got 12 whiffs on 39 swings (30.8%), earning five strikeouts on his knuckle curve, two on his sinker and two on his four-seamer.

What's next?

Glasnow is slated to rejoin L.A.’s rotation sometime during the club’s upcoming road trip. The Dodgers will take on the Braves from Aug. 25-27 at Truist Park in Atlanta before facing the Tigers from Aug. 28-30 at Comerica Park in Detroit.

The right-hander had a 2.72 ERA in seven big league starts this season before landing on the IL.

What else?

Glasnow’s imminent return is important to a Dodgers rotation still missing Shohei Ohtani, who has not pitched since July 3 due to a left knee injury. Ohtani is also making his way back: He threw 35 pitches in a bullpen session on Tuesday in Denver and could soon begin throwing batting practice.

Los Angeles is also without left-hander Justin Wrobleski, who was placed on the 15-day injured list on Sunday with forearm irritation.