The Los Angeles Dodgers made a late pitching change Friday, scratching right-hander Tyler Glasnow from his scheduled start against the Baltimore Orioles and handing the ball to two-way star Shohei Ohtani.
Manager Dave Roberts said Glasnow was experiencing back tightness and is expected to be pushed back a few days, with a possible return early next week.
Glasnow threw seven innings in his last game but struggled with command over his past two starts, including a four-walk effort in four innings against the Padres on Aug. 23.
Ohtani, originally scheduled to start Monday against Colorado, instead returns to the mound Friday after missing his previous outing with a chest cold. He continued to hit during the illness, going 2-for-5 in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, but the Dodgers held him out of pitching duties.
Friday’s start marks Ohtani’s 12th of the season as he builds back his workload following a second elbow surgery. The Japanese star debuted as a Dodgers pitcher in June after nearly two years away from the mound. He is 1-1 with a 4.18 ERA and 44 strikeouts through 32 1/3 innings.
