It’s too soon to say if the back injury sustained by Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow is serious, but Wednesday afternoon, manager Dave Roberts signaled optimism.
Glasnow hurt his lower back as he warmed up for the second inning against the Houston Astros.
He said his back “gave out,” prompting him to gesture for the trainers’ help.
While there is some concern because Glasnow has sustained this injury before, Roberts said he doesn’t expect the pitcher to be put on the injured list.
He’ll get an MRI to confirm the extent of the injury when the team returns to LA.
Glasnow told Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times that it felt more like a spasm.
“It shouldn’t be too long,” he said.
How did Tyler Glasnow get hurt?
Glasnow was effective in the first inning, racking up two strikeouts, bringing him over 1,000 Ks in his career.
As he was warming up for the second inning, though, he felt his back “gave out” during a throw.
When he tried another pitch, it didn’t feel better, he told Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.
Glasnow has struggled with lower back pain before, as well as other injuries.
In July 2024, amid his first season with the Dodgers, he suffered a back injury, then was sidelined again a month later with elbow tendonitis. That second injury ended his season.
In 2025, he was hurt again, this time with right shoulder inflammation.
He returned to action in July 2025 and stayed healthy for the rest of the year.
Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register said Glasnow has actually had this back injury pop up every year since high school, and they don’t expect the MRI to show structural damage.
How Has Tyler Glasnow Played in 2026?
Glasnow (3-0) has been a standout for the Dodgers this season, even among their fantastic starting rotation.
He has a 2.72 ERA and leads the team with 48 strikeouts.
He also has a WHIP of 0.828, which would be the lowest of his career if he can keep it up this season.
It’s still too early to know how the injury will affect Glasnow’s availability and performance, or if this changes the calculus for the Dodgers when Blake Snell returns from injury.