Dave Roberts Sends Clear Message: Dodgers Need to See More Consistency and Dependability from Tyler Glasnow Going Forward

Tyler Glasnow came to Los Angeles with the weight of expectation on his shoulders. Acquired in a high-profile offseason trade and promptly handed a lucrative contract extension, the towering right-hander was supposed to be the missing piece atop the Dodgers’ rotation — a front-line presence capable of dominating October lineups and stabilizing the pitching staff through a 162-game grind.

But as the season progresses, the returns have been a mixed bag.

While Glasnow’s electric stuff is undeniable — the mid-to-high 90s fastball, the knee-buckling curveball, the wipeout slider — his results have been inconsistent. And now, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is voicing what many inside the organization have been thinking for weeks: the club needs more dependability from its prized right-hander.

Speaking to reporters ahead of a recent game at Dodger Stadium, Roberts was candid when asked about Glasnow’s performance to date.

“We know what Tyler is capable of,” Roberts said. “When he’s on, there aren’t many better. But we need to see that on a more consistent basis. For us to get to where we want to be, we need Tyler to not just be dominant in flashes — we need dependability.”

That word — dependability — echoed throughout Roberts’ remarks. And it wasn’t said flippantly.

For years, the Dodgers have prided themselves on building pitching staffs that are deep, durable, and adaptable. Glasnow, acquired with eyes on a deep postseason run, represents both the promise of greatness and the risk that comes with a pitcher who has historically struggled with injuries and inconsistent command.

Now halfway through the season, Glasnow’s numbers reflect that duality. His strikeouts remain elite, ranking among the league leaders in K/9. But he’s also battled bouts of wildness, occasional mechanical hiccups, and an inability to consistently get deep into games.

The numbers don’t lie: while Glasnow has delivered several starts that showcased ace-caliber dominance — including a 12-strikeout masterpiece against the Padres in May and a seven-inning gem in Atlanta — he’s also been tagged for crooked numbers in other outings, failing to complete five innings on multiple occasions. It’s that unpredictability that’s become a point of concern for the Dodgers’ leadership.

“It’s not about one bad start here or there,” Roberts clarified. “It’s about showing up every fifth day and giving us a chance. Even if you don’t have your best stuff, can you compete? Can you battle through five, six innings? That’s what we need.”

Glasnow, to his credit, hasn’t shied away from the criticism. After a recent start in which he gave up four runs in just four innings, the 6-foot-8 flamethrower was blunt in his self-assessment.

“I didn’t execute,” Glasnow said. “I have to be better. That’s on me.”

Still, the underlying metrics suggest there’s no reason to panic — at least not yet. Glasnow’s FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) remains solid, and his velocity has been steady. His spin rates are elite, and when he’s in rhythm, he looks every bit the ace the Dodgers envisioned when they acquired him from Tampa Bay.

But for a team with championship aspirations, the standard isn’t just effectiveness — it’s trust. And that trust, as Roberts made clear, is built start by start.

Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior echoed the sentiment, noting that the team is working closely with Glasnow to streamline his delivery and improve pitch sequencing, especially when he falls behind in counts.

“There’s a lot of upside with Tyler, and we’ve seen it,” Prior said. “It’s about harnessing that stuff and making sure he can go out there and replicate it every time. Consistency is the key.”

It’s worth noting that Glasnow’s career has been anything but conventional. Drafted out of high school by the Pirates, he debuted with sky-high expectations but struggled with control and injuries. A midseason trade to Tampa Bay in 2018 revitalized his career, and under the Rays’ watchful eye, he blossomed into a frontline starter — albeit one often hampered by injury. He’s never thrown more than 120 innings in a single regular season, and durability concerns have followed him throughout his career.

That’s why, when the Dodgers acquired him, there were eyebrows raised — not about his talent, but about whether he could shoulder the workload of a No. 1 or No. 2 starter over a full season. The early signs this year have been encouraging, especially in terms of health, but the inconsistency has kept the questions alive.

Roberts’ public remarks may be seen as a challenge, or perhaps a call to action. Either way, they reflect an organizational truth: the Dodgers need Glasnow to be more than just a high-upside arm. They need him to be an anchor.

The timing of the comments is also significant. As the All-Star break nears, teams begin to reassess their rotations, eyeing trade deadlines and playoff positioning. The Dodgers, perennially in contention, are no exception. With other starters like Bobby Miller dealing with injuries and Walker Buehler working his way back into form after surgery, the burden on Glasnow only grows.

LA’s front office has shown time and again that it won’t hesitate to add reinforcements if needed. But what they’d prefer is to see Glasnow lock in and claim his role as the staff’s tone-setter.

“Every great team needs that guy you can hand the ball to in Game 1 and feel good about it,” one Dodgers insider said. “We believe Tyler can be that guy. The question is — will he become that guy?”

It’s a fair question. And the rest of the season may provide the answer.

In the clubhouse, Glasnow remains popular among teammates, known for his quirky sense of humor, cerebral approach, and willingness to mentor younger pitchers. But ultimately, what will define his Dodgers tenure — and perhaps his career — is whether he can evolve from being tantalizing to being trusted.

“Tyler’s ceiling is as high as anyone’s,” Roberts said. “But at some point, it’s not about ceiling — it’s about floor. What’s your baseline? What can we count on, week after week?”

In the coming months, as the schedule tightens and every start becomes more consequential, the Dodgers will be watching closely.

They’re not asking for perfection. But they are asking for dependability. For five or six innings of competitive fire. For resilience on nights when command isn’t sharp. For the kind of presence that says: we’ve got this guy, we’re good today.

And for Tyler Glasnow, this is the moment to answer that call.

The stuff is there. The opportunity is there.

Now it’s about showing up — every fifth day — and making sure the Dodgers don’t have to ask again.