LOS ANGELES, CA—While the Los Angeles Dodgers look to tie up the Milwaukee Brewers in the top of the National League standings today, along with taking a 2-1 weekend series lead, we got plenty of updates on Kyle Tucker, Tyler Glasnow, Will Smith, and where things stand with the roster heading into mid-August.
Glasnow Dominates Again, With One Final Tune-Up Standing Between Him and a Dodgers Return
The Dodgers starting rotation already had a significant boost with the trade deadline acquisition of two-time American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal along with fellow Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell on Tuesday; however, that strength is set to get even stronger with the soon-to-be activated Tyler Glasnow set to return soon.
Glasnow, who has been out since May, is set to make his fourth and final minor league rehab start this upcoming week and should rejoin the Dodgers rotation on the team's six-game road trip to close out the month of August, per Dave Roberts.
The right-hander, who has battled injuries throughout his major league career, was electric in his third rehab outing with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets on Friday, striking out eight in 3.2 innings pitched.
However, even before being placed on the IL, Glasnow was putting together a great season, going 3-0 with a 2.72 ERA in seven starts.
“It was a good one yesterday,” Roberts said. “I think our thought is going to do another one, five (innings) and 75 (pitches), and then he’ll join us.”
The return of Glasnow will surely push a starter out of the rotation, and while the obvious answer is left-handed swingman Eric Lauer, Roberts also confirmed that 2026 National League All-Star Justin Wrobleski will also shift to the ‘pen to close the season, too.
Still, Glasnow, like Snell, was nails for the Dodgers rotation in the second half of last season after his activation off the IL and was a massive part of the Dodgers' 2025 championship run, pitching critical innings in the rotation and bullpen.
Glasnow’s Return Shifts Wrobleski to the Bullpen as Roberts Confirms His New Role
Speaking of Justin Wrobleski, Dave Roberts confirmed to the media on Saturday that the left-hander would transition back to the Dodgers bullpen for the final stretch of the regular season after Glasnow’s activation.
Wrobleski, an NL All-Star, was a bright spot and surprise to the Dodgers starting rotation this season, posting a 2.69 ERA in the first half but has seen that balloon to a 7.20 ERA since then.
Wrobleski has some bullpen experience, but most of his success has come as a starter. He has been a full-time starter this season, posting a 3.44 ERA, although he has hit a rough patch recently.
Over his last three starts, Wrobleski has posted a 9.88 ERA. Some of those struggles could be attributed to his increased workload. He is approaching double the number of innings he threw last season and is already 18 innings beyond his previous career high, which he set at High-A in 2023.
With that in mind, moving Wrobleski to the bullpen could benefit both him and a Dodgers relief corps that has struggled for consistency.
Will Smith Takes Another Step Forward, Staying on Track for September Dodgers Return
The catching position was a massive strength for the Dodgers entering the 2026 season and for good reason, with the backstop held down by All-Star Will Smith and young former top prospect Dalton Rushing.
Now entering the final stretch of the 2026 regular season, that depth has been tested with injuries to both Dodgers catchers.
However, in the meantime, Will Smith got some positive news today from Dave Roberts, who reported that the backstop's body responded well to Friday’s bullpen session and batting practice and is still eyeing a September return.
Smith has been out since June 3rd due to a lingering neck issue that progressed so far that the right-handed hitter was shut down for several weeks and only just recently began ramping up baseball activity.
The Dodgers also got good news on Rushing, who, like Smith, was a participant in batting practice and caught a bullpen session but did not throw, as the left-handed hitter looks to nurse his right UCL rather than get season-ending Tommy John surgery.
In the meantime, the tandem of fan-favorite Ben Rortvedt and Hunter Fedducia will continue to man the plate in Smth and Rushing’s absence.
$60 Million Man Kyle Tucker Sits as Dodgers Look to Solve His Troubling Home Struggles
To say Kyle Tucker’s first season in Dodger Blue has been underwhelming would be an understatement after signing a massive short-term contract with over $60 million per year, but on Saturday that frustration may have reached its peak with Tucker sitting due to his home offensive struggles.
For Kyle Tucker, this is becoming increasingly embarrassing. The $240 million offseason signing was out of the lineup Saturday as Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged just how stark Tucker’s home-road splits have become.
“Being at home right now, I can see the frustration,” Roberts said. “I felt that for him (it was best) to use today as a work day, and he will be back in there tomorrow.”
The numbers make the decision understandable—and pretty damning for Tucker. He is hitting just .192 at Dodger Stadium with two home runs and 17 RBIs, compared to a much stronger .275 average, nine home runs and 37 RBIs on the road. That is a massive difference for a player who signed a four-year, $240 million contract this offseason.
Roberts admitted the disparity has become impossible to ignore, even if Tucker himself wasn’t initially focused on it.
“I don’t think he even realized (his frustration) until recently, when I think people brought it to light, but the fact is that the splits are stark (between home and road),” Roberts said.
The Dodgers aren’t simply benching Tucker, though. Roberts said he will be back in the lineup for Sunday’s series finale against Milwaukee and will remain in the lineup when Los Angeles heads to Colorado for a three-game series against the Rockies.
Still, for a player expected to be one of the faces of this lineup, being reduced to a “work day” at home because he hasn’t been able to hit there is an awkward—and frankly embarrassing—development. Roberts doesn’t have an explanation for the extreme split, and Tucker’s struggles have made the $240 million investment look increasingly uncomfortable whenever the Dodgers return to Dodger Stadium.
The decision also gives Alex Call an opportunity to start in right field, with Roberts noting that Call’s ability to spoil pitches and work at-bats against Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski played into the decision.