The Los Angeles Dodgers and Tyler Glasnow clinched the National League West for the fourth straight year on Thursday, securing the No. 3 seed in the postseason. With the division wrapped up, attention now shifts to Tuesday’s Wild Card Series, where Los Angeles will host either the Cincinnati Reds or New York Mets in a best-of-three at Dodger Stadium.
Rotation Depth Creates a New Opportunity
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The Dodgers’ rotation has been their backbone, but in a short series only three starters are required. Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Blake Snell are expected to headline the Wild Card round, leaving other arms to shift roles. That includes Tyler Glasnow, who manager Dave Roberts confirmed could be deployed out of the bullpen.
“What it does is it opens up him in the ‘pen,” Roberts told SportsNet LA. “I had a good conversation with him. He’s ready for whatever we need of him. So to be able to shorten him up, shorten Emmet [Sheehan] up, the goal is to get our best 12, 13 pitchers on the roster. That’s our plan.”
Glasnow, who last pitched in relief with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2018, made his final regular-season start on Saturday in Seattle. Limited to three innings and 36 pitches, the right-hander allowed no runs on three hits and one walk while striking out three.
A Dodgers’ Bullpen in Flux
While the rotation surged in September, the bullpen struggled. Setup man Blake Treinen and closer Tanner Scott both faltered down the stretch, prompting Roberts to experiment with Roki Sasaki in relief during his return from injury. Sasaki thrived and is likely to remain in the role, while Emmet Sheehan has also been designated for bullpen duty in October.
The Dodgers showed their potential on Saturday when Treinen, Alex Vesia, and Edgardo Henriquez combined to strike out nine straight Mariners to close the game, setting a franchise record. Still, Roberts knows more consistency is required if the Dodgers are to advance.
Tyler Glasnow’s 2025 Season
Despite missing time with right shoulder inflammation, Glasnow was sharp when healthy. He finished the regular season 4-3 with a 3.19 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 106 strikeouts over 90.1 innings. His ability to miss bats and maintain velocity could make him a dangerous weapon in shorter bursts out of the bullpen.
For a team with World Series aspirations, finding the right mix between rotation strength and bullpen reliability may be the difference. Glasnow’s willingness to adapt gives Roberts another option as October begins.