From the visiting dugout at Petco Park on Monday, Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes ran through an injury list that sounded more like a triage report than a routine update. He confirmed that Blake Snell is set for a NanoNeedle scope to clear loose bodies from his left elbow and that Tyler Glasnow has suffered another back flare-up and is temporarily shut down from throwing. The setbacks have the Dodgers scrambling to lean on their depth and rethink the starting rotation hierarchy on the fly.
Snell set for less-invasive elbow procedure
The Dodgers plan for left-hander Blake Snell to undergo a NanoNeedle scope Tuesday to remove loose bodies from his left elbow, a less-invasive procedure that could trim roughly a month off a standard arthroscopic recovery timeline, according to MLB.com. Gomes said the club is encouraged by the potential for a quicker return but warned that "we don’t know 100% until they’re in there" and doctors get a direct look at the elbow. The decision comes on the heels of Tigers ace Tarik Skubal’s quick ramp-up after a similar procedure, which offers the Dodgers a cautiously optimistic comparison.
Glasnow shut down after back flare-up
Tyler Glasnow, already on the 15-day injured list with lower back spasms, experienced another flare-up and will not throw for the next few days, Gomes said. He added that there is "no concern long-term," as reported by the Los Angeles Times. An early plan that might have lined Glasnow up to return this weekend in Milwaukee now appears off the board, leaving the Dodgers down a frontline starter at a tricky point in the schedule.
Graterol's rehab derailed by lower-back issue
Reliever Brusdar Graterol, who is working his way back from right shoulder labrum surgery, began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City earlier this month but had to shut it down after hurting his lower back. Gomes said the club is "trying to exhaust all options" and has not ruled out additional surgery while they sort through the next steps, according to MLB.com.
Rotation depth being tested; Lauer in the mix
With both Snell and Glasnow sidelined, the Dodgers are leaning toward turning to Eric Lauer as a starter, though the team indicated he is unlikely to take a turn in Milwaukee this weekend, according to the Los Angeles Times. Gomes emphasized the tightrope between pushing to win every series and protecting pitchers for the long haul, crediting the depth built in spring training for helping the club weather this wave of injuries. How the front office juggles the rotation and bullpen over the next couple of weeks looms as a central storyline as the Dodgers try to stay in step in a tight division race.
Gomes said the immediate priority is navigating the three-game set in San Diego while continuing to balance short-term needs with long-term health as roster decisions pile up. For fans and fantasy managers, that likely means more roster shuffling ahead as the Dodgers ride out this bumpy stretch.
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