Sports
News Analysis: ‘Not ideal.’ As Dodgers wait on pitching reinforcements, October questions still linger
On three occasions Wednesday afternoon, Dave Roberts uttered the same phrase while discussing the shorthanded state of the Dodgers’ injury-plagued pitching staff.
“Not ideal,” the manager said.
And with October on the horizon, time is running short for the situation to improve.
With a sweep of the Seattle Mariners this week, the Dodgers did maintain the best record in the majors at 76-52. They also moved four games clear of the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West standings, their biggest division lead in more than two weeks.
Those marks, however, belie the tenuous state of what remains a patchwork starting rotation. They do little to answer the questions awaiting the Dodgers’ still uncertain potential pitching plans come the playoffs.
As things currently stand, it’s anyone’s guess what the Dodgers’ rotation might look like a month from now.
Roberts, who was peppered with pitching questions before Wednesday’s game, was no exception.
“Short answer,” Roberts said when asked if the Dodgers are still facing “too many” variables on the mound long-term, “yes.”
At the moment, the two primary linchpins are Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto — the almost half-billion-dollar duo the Dodgers acquired this winter hoping to avoid this exact fate.
Glasnow and Yamamoto have been good when healthy, but both are currently on the injured list and not expected to return until next month.
On Wednesday, Yamamoto threw his second simulated game since a June shoulder injury, pitching two innings at Dodger Stadium in what Roberts described as a “big step” for the rookie Japanese right-hander.
“I think at this point, everything’s starting to get all together,” Yamamoto said through his interpreter.
Still, the 25-year-old has several boxes to check before returning, including another three-inning sim game next week, then a minor-league rehab stint that could last another week or two.
That puts Yamamoto — who was 6-2 with a 2.92 ERA before suffering a strained rotator cuff — on track for a mid-September return.
Does that leave enough time for him to ramp up before the playoffs?
“It’s obviously not ideal,” Roberts said. “But I still think getting him back to health and building him up is [what will give us] our best ball club. So we’re going to make the most of it.”
Glasnow could find himself in an unexpectedly similar spot.
After going on the injured list with elbow tendinitis last weekend, the right-hander had still yet to resume throwing as of Wednesday. Because of that, Roberts acknowledged Glasnow’s return will likely stretch “beyond” the 15-day timeline in which he was initially expected back.
Roberts downplayed any growing concern about Glasnow’s long-term status.
“I know he’s probably frustrated,” the manager said. “But you’ve got to listen to your body.”
Nonetheless, the longer it takes Glasnow to return, the more his situation will start to mirror Yamamoto’s — leaving potentially little time for him to rejoin the rotation and ramp back up before the playoffs.
“He was fighting to stay off the IL and wants to be there for his teammates,” Roberts said, searching for optimism. “But I think with the build-up that he’s had, [missing] a couple weeks isn’t going to cut too much into what he’s already been built up to do.”
The Dodgers can only hope so.
Beyond Glasnow and Yamamoto, the team’s other pitching options represent more of a mixed bag.
While top deadline acquisition Jack Flaherty has been solid in his first four Dodgers starts — he’s gone 3-0 with a 3.22 ERA and 29 strikeouts — he has only completed six innings in one of those outings, and bemoaned inconsistent command Wednesday night that drove up his pitch count.
“I feel like I came over in a good spot, and then kind of hit probably the weirdest funk I’ve been in all year, in terms of just like nibbling, not quite getting deep enough in games, just not quite being as sharp,” Flaherty said, after a 5⅔ innings start against the Mariners.
“I’ve still been able to get guys out, still make pitches, which is good. But if you execute [better], you end up getting deeper into games. So it’s really close. It’s just a matter of continuing to work and turning starts like tonight into seven innings.”
The team’s next best fall-back options are Gavin Stone and Clayton Kershaw.
Stone, a rookie right-hander who was an All-Star candidate early this year, has started to bounce back from his midseason malaise, but still has an ERA over 5.00 since the start of July.
Kershaw, meanwhile, continues to defy his 36-year-old age, having given up just two total runs in three starts this month. However, after undergoing shoulder surgery in the offseason, his diminished stuff has often looked reminiscent to the end of last year, when he managed to navigate the regular season before getting shelled by the Diamondbacks in the playoffs.
Ideally, the Dodgers would likely prefer a Glasnow-Yamamoto-Flaherty playoff rotation, with Kershaw and/or Stone providing extra starting depth in a longer series.
If the Dodgers suffer any more injury setbacks among that group, though, their only other alternatives might be Walker Buehler or Bobby Miller — neither of whom have looked sharp this year returning from their own injuries.
That’s why, even with October a little more than a month away, Roberts continued to express caution about postseason pitching plans; crossing his fingers that the last month of the season will produce better injury luck than most of this campaign has so far.
“We’re sort of going through it right now,” Roberts said. “I guess if the ship is righted, then I’d rather it be right now, and get the guys that we know have been good to pitch well. But not ideal is probably fair.”
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The Detroit Lions announced they have released cornerback Terrion Arnold, their 2024 first-round pick, following an arrest last week where he was charged with armed robbery and kidnapping.
This comes after Arnold had his bond set at $1 million on Monday by Hillsborough County Judge Christopher Sabella.
Sabella also added conditions for Arnold, which included no contact with the six co-defendants in the case as well as the witnesses. He also must surrender his passport within 48 hours, and remain confined to his home in Tallahassee, Florida, except when he would be playing, training or traveling with the Lions or making court-related appearances.
Terrion Arnold of the Detroit Lions runs onto the field before an NFL game against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, on Nov. 27, 2025. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
The state also asked Judge Sabella for Arnold to be required to wear a GPS tracking device, but Arnold’s attorneys said he wouldn’t be able to play football with it on.
Prosecutors were pushing for Arnold to be held without bond but, though the charges are serious ones in Sabella’s eyes, he didn’t believe the case was strong enough to hold him in that fashion.
The 23-year-old Arnold was arrested in connection with an alleged kidnapping and robbery that investigators say occurred in February, the Tampa Police Department announced on June 25. Arnold turned himself in and was taken into custody at Orient Road Jail in Hillsborough County on Wednesday night.
TERRION ARNOLD, LIONS’ 2024 FIRST-ROUND PICK, CHARGED WITH KIDNAPPING AND ARMED ROBBERY IN FLORIDA
Arnold is charged with four counts of kidnapping and four counts of armed robbery.
Spokespersons for the Lions and the NFL told Fox News Digital they were aware of the situation, but wouldn’t comment any further. Now, the Lions have made their move one month before training camp kicks off across the league.
According to investigators, Arnold rented an Airbnb in Largo, Florida, where he periodically stayed with several co-defendants: Arianna Del Valle, 19; Jasmine Randazzo, 19; Lyndell Hudson II, 26; Christion Williams, 24; Boakai Hilton Jr., 23; and Freddie Hughes, 27. Authorities said other individuals also stayed at the property.
Investigators said three male victims, all in their late teens, suffered visible injuries after they were allegedly battered, held at gunpoint and pistol-whipped before being robbed and ordered to leave a residence in the 14000 block of North 46th Street in Tampa.
Terrion Arnold of the Detroit Lions looks on during the second half of an NFL game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., on Sept. 7, 2025. (Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images)
According to investigators, multiple personal items belonging to Arnold and others were stolen from the Airbnb on Feb. 1. Authorities said Arnold suspected two of the three victims were responsible, though Tampa police later determined they were not involved in the theft.
On Feb. 3, Arnold, Hilton, Hughes and another individual reported more than $250,000 in stolen property to the Largo Police Department.
Investigators allege that later that day Arnold and Hilton coordinated with Del Valle and Randazzo to contact one of the victims and lure him to an apartment.
Police said the three victims arrived at the apartment on Feb. 4 to meet the women, where Williams and Hudson were allegedly hiding inside a bedroom closet. According to investigators, Williams and Hudson grabbed the victims, held them at gunpoint and assaulted them.
Authorities said Del Valle streamed the incident to Arnold, Hilton and Hughes as they traveled to the apartment. Investigators also said they recovered a group chat involving the defendants in which Arnold and Hilton allegedly gave directions to Del Valle, Williams and Hudson during the assault.
According to investigators, Arnold, Hilton, Hughes and another individual arrived at the apartment around 1 a.m. Police allege Arnold directed the group inside, and that Hughes, Hudson and Williams stole the victims’ personal property while the assault was ongoing.
Authorities said the victims were escorted from the apartment about 40 minutes later, forced into their vehicle and left the scene. They later reported the incident to Tampa police and identified the suspects.
Terrion Arnold of the Detroit Lions lines up before a play during an NFL game against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich., on Nov. 27, 2025. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
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Investigators said they believe Arnold was the primary organizer of the alleged scheme based on evidence gathered during the investigation. However, Harvey Steinberg, one of Arnold’s attorneys, argued in court that the prosecutors were “not even close” to showing he knew or directed his associates in this incident.
Arnold was expected to be a starting corner for the Lions this season, making his release a big one for the depth chart. He recorded his first career interception this past season in Week 9 against the Minnesota Vikings, though he was only able to play eight games because of a shoulder injury that required season-ending surgery.
Arnold played 16 games during his rookie season in 2024, tallying 10 passes defended and 60 combined tackles.
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A Florida judge set a $1 million bond for former Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold, who has been in jail since being arrested last week in connection to an alleged armed attack on a group of men in Tampa, Fla., in February.
Arnold will not have to wear an ankle monitor while he awaits trail on eight felony charges of kidnapping and robbery that could keep him in prison for life if convicted, thus clearing the way for him to practice and play football during that span.
He won’t be doing so, however, with the team that drafted him at No. 24 overall in the 2024 draft. The Lions announced Monday afternoon on X that they have released Arnold, with no other details provided.
Hillsborough County Judge Christopher C. Sabella said during Monday’s hearing that Arnold already has a “paparazzi monitor” that would prevent any potential attempts to flee.
“If he is late for practice, ESPN will let us know,” Sabella said. “If he violates the conditions of his bond, he will be found.”
Arnold was ordered to remain at his Tallahassee home except for when he’s playing, training and traveling with the Lions. He also has to turn in his passport and cannot have any contact with other people tied to the case.
The Hillsborough County state attorney’s office had argued for Arnold to remain behind bars until trial. The county jail’s inmate tracker has not been updated and does not indicate if he has posted bond or been released.
According to the Tampa Police Department, Arnold is believed to be the “primary conspirator” in an alleged plot that left three young men with “visible injuries from being battered, held at gunpoint, and pistol-whipped before their personal property was stolen and they were ordered to leave.”
Arnold turned himself in Wednesday night and pleaded not guilty at his arraignment hearing Thursday afternoon.
“Today’s ruling by Judge Sabella confirms that there is very little evidence to even suggest any criminal involvement by Mr. Arnold,” Denise White, chief executive of EAG Sports Management, which represents Arnold, said in a statement emailed to The Times.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Sports
Thekla embarrasses Stardom’s Starlight Kid after retaining AEW World Women’s Championship at Forbidden Door
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Thekla has had every reason to talk as much trash as she’s done.
She made her debut in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) last year and quickly moved up the ladder to win the AEW Women’s World Championship in a strap match against Kris Statlander in February. She’s continued to hold the title even when three opponents were thrown her way at Double or Nothing.
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Thekla enters the ring during the women’s pro-wrestling event “Stardom” at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan, on Jan. 13, 2025. (Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
Thekla declared war on Stardom and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) in the buildup to Forbidden Door. She demanded that Stardom send its best to challenge her at Forbidden Door, and they obliged. Starlight Kid stepped up against the “Toxic Spider” and the two put on a great match in front of the pro wrestling audience at the SAP Center in San Jose, California.
Thekla taunted Starlight Kid throughout the match and it appeared she got more than she bargained for at points during the match.
Starlight Kid wouldn’t stay down and gave every effort to bring the AEW Women’s World Championship back to Japan with her. Starlight Kid worked on Thekla’s knee toward the end of the match. But the champion would not quit.
Starlight Kid enters the ring during the Women’s Pro-Wrestling “Stardom” 15th Anniversary at Edion Arena Osaka in Osaka, Japan, on Feb. 7, 2026. (Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
Thekla got out of the submission hold and avoided being pinned by mere seconds. Thekla was put to the test more than any other opponent she’s faced since becoming the champion.
The “Toxic Spider” hit two stomps and finally put away Starlight Kid to retain the title.
With Stardom president Taro Okada in attendance, Thekla continued her assault against Starlight Kid. Skye Blue and Julia Hart came out to support Thekla. Hart handed Thekla a pair of scissors and the champion ripped the mask off Starlight Kid’s head and spit in it.
Thekla taunted Okada with the mask and hit the wrestling executive with it.
Thekla enters the ring during the women’s pro-wrestling event Stardom at Yokohama Budokan in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan, on March 8, 2025. (Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
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Thekla stayed the champion and added a trophy to her mantel.
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