Whatever problems surfaced in recent weeks, the Dodgers were able to convince themselves they could overcome them.
The reason: Even with Ohtani unable to pitch, they had the most talented starting rotation of this era.
uncertain
they → surface → era
Blake Snell departed his start in Cincinnati on Wednesday after just one inning with what was described as a tight left groin.
asserted
what → depart → groin
Consider that Tyler Glasnow traveled directly home from Miami rather than to follow the Dodgers to Great American Ball Park for their four-game series against the Reds, and there are reasons to be worried.
asserted
Glasnow → consider → Reds
With an inconsistent offense and combustible bullpen, the Dodgers were going to be heavily dependent on their starting pitching in the playoffs.
asserted
Dodgers → go → playoffs
That rotation could now be unraveling.
uncertain
rotation → unravel → ?
The last time Snell strained his left groin was when he was pitching for the San Francisco Giants in 2024.
asserted
he → strain → 2024
He was sidelined for a month.
asserted
He → sideline → month
For what it’s worth, Snell is convinced this particular injury isn’t severe and plans to make his next start, according to people familiar with this situation.
uncertain
injury → ’ → situation
“Stopped before it got too bad,” one of the people said.
asserted
one → stop → people
Then again, weren’t similar claims once made about Ohtani?
uncertain
claims → make → Ohtani
As for Glasnow, he remains on track to pitch on Friday.
asserted
he → remain → Friday
Manager Dave Roberts said Glasnow skipped the Cincinnati leg of the trip to better prepare for his starting assignment at Dodger Stadium against the San Francisco Giants.
asserted
Glasnow → say → Giants
“Get him acclimated to Pacific Standard Time,” Roberts said.
asserted
Roberts → get → Time
By sending Glasnow back to Los Angeles, the Dodgers spared him a three-hour flight from Miami to Cincinnati.
asserted
Dodgers → send → Cincinnati
Glasnow was sidelined for 3 ½ months because of back problems, and Roberts intimated something could be wrong with him after his most recent start.
uncertain
something → sideline → start
In his last two appearances, the 6-foot-8 right-hander gave up a combined eight runs, 11 hits and seven walks in 10 innings.
asserted
hander → give → innings
The questions about Snell’s and Glasnow’s health came at a time when the rotation was coming together before the postseason.
Snell in particular was sharp after returning from an elbow cleanup that cost him three months.
asserted
that → come → months
Before his early departure on Wednesday, Snell was 4-0 with a 1.04 earned-run average since he was activated from the injured list on Aug. 11.
asserted
he → earn → Aug.
Snell wasn’t the only Cy Young Award-caliber pitcher rounding into shape.
asserted
Snell → round → shape
The day before Snell scaled the mound, it was Yamamoto’s turn to do so, and last year’s World Series Most Valuable Player pitched seven scoreless innings in a 4-0 win over the Reds.
The seven-inning start was the third in a row for Yamamoto, who improved his record to 14-8 and lowered his earned-run average to 2.51.
“I feel really good and I don’t have any physical problems,” Yamamoto told reporters in Japanese.
asserted
Yamamoto → scale → Japanese
“I want to treat practice each and every day with importance and go into October in the best condition.”
asserted
I → want → condition
The opening game of the series was started by Tarik Skubal, the two-time Cy Young Award winner who was acquired from the Detroit Tigers before the trade deadline.
asserted
who → start → deadline
Skubal pitched seven scoreless innings of his own in a 4-1 victory over the Reds.
asserted
Skubal → pitch → Reds
In his previous start, which was also against the Reds but at Dodger Stadium, Skubal pitched 7 ⅓ innings.
asserted
Skubal → pitch → innings
“Just getting in a rhythm,” Skubal said.
asserted
Skubal → get → rhythm
Just last week, the Dodgers had a playoff rotation that would have looked to other teams like the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
asserted
that → have → Apocalypse
Now, there’s a chance they could be forced to send Roki Sasaki and Emmet Sheehan to the mound in playoff games.
uncertain
they → ’ → games
The Dodgers could conceivably win a championship with a rotation of Yamamoto, Skubal, Sasaki and Sheehan but that would require their offense to be productive.
uncertain
offense → win → Yamamoto
How much can the Dodgers count on that, considering the physical problems Ohtani and Freeman have encountered?
asserted
Ohtani → count → problems
And how would using Sasaki as a starter instead of a reliever affect their bullpen?
asserted
using → use → bullpen
Snell removed himself from his start on Wednesday so the Dodgers wouldn’t have to find out.
asserted
Dodgers → remove → Wednesday
The question is whether he did so in time.
asserted
he → do → time
Their season depends on it.
asserted
season → depend → it
The Aporia
