In a devastating blow to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tyler Glasnow is "highly unlikely" to pitch again this season due to a sprained right elbow, as announced by manager Dave Roberts on Saturday. This news raises serious concerns for the team, which had high expectations of making a strong postseason run but now faces uncertainty with its rotation.

Glasnow, who had been sidelined since August 11 with elbow tendinitis, appeared to be nearing a return before encountering another setback that effectively ends his season. The 31-year-old right-hander was preparing for a simulated game on Friday but had to stop due to elbow discomfort during his bullpen warm-up, just as he reached his 25th throw.

With this latest setback, the Dodgers' rotation outlook becomes exceedingly uncertain. The team can currently only rely on newcomer Jack Flaherty to start their first postseason game. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who recently returned from a shoulder injury, also shows promise as a potential option. However, beyond these two pitchers, the Dodgers will need to explore other possibilities to fill their rotation.

Manager Dave Roberts expressed his disappointment at the injury, acknowledging Glasnow's impact on the team and the high expectations placed on him. Roberts stated, "It's a big blow. Looking at what he meant for our ballclub, what he's done for us, what we expected him to do, certainly there's going to be a cost. But we gotta move on and we will. We have a lot of capable people. I feel bad for Tyler because he did everything to stay healthy and get back, and it just wasn't going to happen."

The Dodgers acquired Glasnow during the offseason from the Tampa Bay Rays, trading away promising youngsters Ryan Pepiot and Jonny DeLuca. They subsequently signed the right-hander to a lucrative five-year, $136.6 million extension. Glasnow lived up to expectations for the most part, posting a solid 3.49 ERA in 134 innings, striking out 168 batters and allowing 35 walks. However, his durability lasted for just over four months before this unfortunate injury occurred.

As of now, Glasnow will be shut down from throwing for an undetermined period of time. There are concerns that he may have suffered further damage to his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), which he had repaired through Tommy John surgery in 2021. Roberts clarified that Glasnow's UCL remains intact, though a sprained elbow diagnosis typically indicates some degree of ligament damage.

This injury adds to the list of setbacks the Dodgers have faced this season. Ace pitcher Clayton Kershaw has been dealing with a bone spur in his left big toe, and while he has been throwing off a makeshift mound, there is still no definitive timetable for his return. Another pitcher, Gavin Stone, is currently managing shoulder inflammation and has yet to resume his throwing program. Walker Buehler and Bobby Miller, the other main rotation options, have also struggled at times.

Nevertheless, Roberts remains optimistic, stating that the team is managing the injuries and focusing on the available players for each game. He commended the resilience of the team and their ability to put themselves in a favorable position despite the challenges faced throughout the season, stating, "To the guys' credit, that's what they've done, and we've put ourselves in a good spot given all that we've gone through this year. We've still got a pretty good ballclub."

The Dodgers must now regroup and rely on their remaining pitchers to step up in Glasnow's absence, as they push forward in their quest for a successful postseason run.