CHICAGO -- The Dodgers were highly anticipating Tarik Skubal's team debut at Wrigley Field on Tuesday night. Still, he was far from the only starting pitcher worth watching in L.A.'s organization that day.
Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow also took the mound for Dodgers affiliates on Tuesday, making meaningful progress toward returning to the big league club. For Snell, it was expected to be his final rehab start, putting him in line to return to L.A. next week.
After bolstering their rotation over the weekend with Skubal, the biggest name on the trade market, the Dodgers will continue to add impact starters on the other side of Monday's Trade Deadline -- thanks to their reinforcements from the injured list. Snell's return is imminent, and ideally, Glasnow should follow a few weeks later.
Snell stretched out to 3 2/3 innings on 73 pitches (41 strikes) with Triple-A Oklahoma City in his fourth rehab start. He struck out three, walked four and allowed three runs on five hits, including two homers. He wasn't sharp, and his high pitch count prevented him from getting into the fifth inning as had been hoped, but he still checked his final box before returning to the Dodgers. He could start one of next week's games against the Royals at Dodger Stadium.
After beginning this season on the IL with left shoulder fatigue, Snell made only one start for the Dodgers on May 9 before being sidelined again, this time due to loose bodies in his left elbow that required surgical removal. The procedure that Snell had on his elbow was similar to the innovative surgery that Skubal had earlier this year, using the NanoNeedle Scope method.
Glasnow not only completed two scoreless innings with Single-A Ontario, he also did it on just 16 pitches (12 strikes). According to manager Dave Roberts, he threw another simulated inning in the bullpen to get closer to the planned pitch count of 30. Glasnow struck out one and allowed one hit in a contest that also featured rehabbing Padres Joe Musgrove and Nick Pivetta on the other side.
After posting a 2.72 ERA through his first seven starts, Glasnow was sidelined for much longer than expected by lower back spasms. His back flared up on him in early attempts to ramp up, but slow-playing his throwing program allowed him to make linear progress without further setbacks.
The Dodgers typically prefer their pitchers to build up to the five-inning, 75-pitch threshold, but Roberts said there will be a conversation about activating Glasnow once he builds up to four innings, which should take two more starts. Glasnow's next rehab start is set for Sunday.