Tyler

Glasnow

Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said during an interview with MLB Network shortly afterwards that Roki Sasaki will return to the rotation mix once spring training rolls around after an impressive closer cameo during the postseason. Roberts hinted the Dodgers will get “creative” early in the season with their pitching staff — code for something that looks and behaves like a six-man rotation without actually calling it one — as they look to preserve Ohtani, Yamamoto, Snell and Glasnow for the long haul. Nearly every contender has adopted some version of this strategy by now, and it’s the logical path for Los Angeles. We expect Emmet Sheehan to grab a spot with Sasaki also factoring into the mix during the early portion of the year.

Glasnow needed just three pitches to record a save during Friday night’s battle and the expectation is that he was going to be available out of the Dodgers’ bullpen for multiple innings if needed on Saturday. How this side issue changes that plan is unknown at the moment. It’ll be another wrinkle to work through during a do-or-die Game 7 for the World Series title on Saturday evening in Toronto.

It’s official. Ohtani will take the ball on just three days’ rest opposite future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer for a Game 7 showdown at Rogers Centre to decide an electric Fall Classic. The 31-year-old two-way superstar was always expected to factor into Los Angeles’ pitching plan for the winner-take-all contest, but it makes the most sense from a routine standpoint to have him start before handing things over to the bullpen. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is the lone Dodgers starter unlikely to pitch barring an emergency, while Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow — who needed just three pitches to record the save in Game 6 — will both be available in relief.

Ohtani will be working on three days rest after throwing 93 pitches against Toronto in Game 4 of the series. Roberts also said that every pitcher will be available outside of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who threw six innings in the Game 6 win. That includes Tyler Glasnow; the presumed starter for Saturday’s game but was needed to record the save Friday. Max Scherzer will start for the Blue Jays in the winner-take-all contest.

In case of emergency, break Glasnow. With runners on second-and-third with nobody out, Glasnow was able to get Ernie Clement to pop up meekly to Freddie Freeman, and then he induced a double play on a lineout and a horrific baserunning mistake by Addison Barger. All of that happened in just three pitches, so there’s a very good chance that Glasnow will still take the ball against Max Scherzer in Game 7 of the World Series on Saturday.

Glasnow kept the Blue Jays off the scoreboard until Alejandro Kirk smacked a three-run homer to left-center field a couple batters after a costly fielding error by second baseman Tommy Edman on a potential double-play ball. He managed to limit the damage any further after André Giménez tacked on another run in the frame with a sacrifice fly. He struck out five and issued three walks. The 32-year-old righty would likely get the ball to start a winner-take-all Game 7, if the series gets to that point.

Shohei Ohtani will then follow him once again in Game 4. Glasnow was terrific his last time out, allowing just one run while punching out eight batters over 5 2/3 innings against the Brewers in Game 3 of the NLCS. He holds a minuscule 0.68 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and an 18/8 K/BB ratio over 13 1/3 innings of work during the postseason.

Glasnow and Brewers fireballer Jacob Misiorowski locked horns in a throwback pitcher’s duel in the late-afternoon shadows at Dodger Stadium. The hard-throwing 32-year-old gave up a run-scoring single to Jake Bauers in the second inning, which accounted for the lone run against him. He got an outstanding defensive play from third baseman Max Muncy to cut down a run at the plate later in the frame and keep the contest tied. He was lifted from the contest at 99 pitches (59 strikes) after issuing a two-out walk to Andrew Vaughn in the sixth. He piled up 14 swinging strikes and lowered his playoff ERA to a microscopic 0.68 in the process. He’s in line to start a potential winner-take-all Game 7 showdown, if necessary.

Roberts added that Glasnow would be in line to start a potential winner-take-all Game 7 showdown with Ohtani could be available out of the bullpen. Glasnow struck out eight over six shutout frames in last Thursday’s NLDS-clinching win over the Phillies. Ohtani last took the ball for Game 1 of the NLDS when he posted nine strikeouts over six strong frames. The tandem will take the ball later this week when the best-of-seven series shifts to Los Angeles.

Glasnow benefitted greatly from the late-afternoon shadows at Dodger Stadium in the early stages of the contest, limiting Philadelphia’s formidable lineup to just a pair of hits and a trio of walks while needing just 83 pitches (55 strikes) to navigate six frames. The hard-throwing 32-year-old righty generated 16 swinging strikes and finished with an elite 40 percent CSW before turning things over to Los Angeles’ bullpen in a scoreless stalemate. It’s possible he’ll be available in relief in the early stages of the NLCS given Los Angeles’ starting pitching depth, but he figures to make a traditional start at some point in the series.