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The Los Angeles Dodgers knew their backs were against the wall in Game 6, so they couldn’t afford to worry about a potential Game 7 until it was guaranteed. In a normal regular-season scenario, Tyler Glasnow would start Saturday’s game and Shohei Ohtani, who has had three days of rest entering Saturday, would pitch the Dodgers’ next game. But the best four words in sports (“World Series Game 7”) also signify that there’s no next game for either LA or the Toronto Blue Jays. After the Blue Jays put the tying run in scoring position with no outs in the bottom of the ninth on Friday, Glasnow was called upon to rescue the situation from Roki Sasaki, who didn’t look particularly sharp. Somehow, Glasnow only needed three pitches to get the next three outs on an Ernie Clement popout and an Andrés Giménez bloop double play. TORONTO, ONTARIO – OCTOBER 31: Tyler Glasnow #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers prepares to pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays during the ninth inning in game six of the 2025 World Series at Rogers Center on October 31, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) It was a heroic moment for Glasnow, but it also completely changed his normal pre-start routine. And in fact, he won’t start Satuday’s game, because that duty belongs to Ohtani, thanks to the rule that allows him to keep the designated hitter spot in the lineup if (and only if) he’s the starting pitcher. “I don’t know if I’ve ever (pitched on back-to-back days),” Glasnow said, per Sonja Chen of MLB.com. “But I’ve pitched, like, a heavy bullpen or something and then pitched. It’s not all the same stuff. I threw like barely any pitches. I didn’t really warm up a ton either, then I threw three pitches. So I’m good to go.” Glasnow will be ready to throw as many innings as the Dodgers need from him out of the bullpen, after Ohtani presumably gives them anywhere from an inning to a full trip through the lineup to kick things off. It’s one of those games where every pitcher will be ready to empty the tank, yet if manager Dave Roberts senses someone is vulnerable, he’ll rush to grab the ball from them. Fortunately, Glasnow worked as a reliever during the National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, and did so quite well, tossing 1 2/3 scoreless innings in Game 1 of the series. He’s now sporting a 1.42 ERA in 19 innings of these playoffs. And the idea of uncharted territory shouldn’t be uncomfortable to Glasnow, because Friday night’s save was not only the first of his major league career, but the first of his professional career, dating back to his fifth-round draft selection in 2011. More MLB: Phillies Predicted to Keep $9M Flamethrower Despite Damaging Suspension
