MLB Today: Shohei Ohtani Move, Yankees' Aaron Judge Decision, Tigers Suffer Blow

Dodgers Pivot to Ohtani, Scratch Glasnow

As reported by Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic on X, the Dodgers scratched Tyler Glasnow from his scheduled start and slotted Shohei Ohtani into the rotation. It was later revealed Glasnow shared back tightness with the team, and will have his start pushed back.

The move highlights LA’s careful handling of Glasnow’s durability and their confidence in Ohtani’s two-way abilities. Through his return to the mound this season, Ohtani has posted an ERA of 4.18, with 44 strikeouts and a 1.21 WHIP, across 32.1 innings. His resurgence as a pitcher is key as the Dodgers ride a two-game lead atop the NL West.

In more concerning news, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also revealed uncertainty around catcher Will Smith's availability this weekend. He took a foul ball off the right hand in Pittsburgh, and will likely have to manage the injury for the rest of the season ( via Jack Harris of LA Times).

Yankees to Share Right Field Duties Between Judge and Stanton

Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters (via Bryan Hoch of MLB.com) that Aaron Judge will not be stationed in right field every day, as Giancarlo Stanton will also see defensive time out there. Judge, baseball's best hitter, leads MLB with a .322 batting average, sits fourth with 43 home runs, and tops the league with a 1.105 OPS.

The move aims to preserve Judge’s health for September’s grind while giving Stanton ample opportunity to impact the team.

Tigers Hurt as Finnegan Lands on Injured List

Detroit announced via team PR that reliever Kyle Finnegan, recently acquired at the trade deadline from the Washington Nationals, is headed to the 15-day injured list due to a right groin strain. The move retroactive to Sept. 1 with expectations he may return before the playoffs (via Evan Woodbery of MLive).

Finnegan has been a reliable late-inning arm this season across Detroit and Washington, with a 3.21 ERA, 51 strikeouts, a 1.05 WHIP, and 24 saves (tied for 12th in the majors). His absence gives Detroit a key bullpen challenge heading into the season’s close.

Rookie Troy Melton could now be in line for more leverage opportunities.

What It All Means Going Forward

Dodgers: Ohtani filling in for Glasnow is a calculated gamble. The reigning NL MVP's effectiveness on the mound adds a potent layer to their roster, especially if Glasnow remains limited, but it has been a mixed bag for Ohtani this season as a pitcher.

Yankees: Splitting time between Judge and Stanton in right field offers balance, protecting their best player while maximizing overall outfield flexibility. Yet Stanton's defense is subpar, and the margins matter in a pennant chase.

Tigers: Losing Finnegan in the pen stresses an already taxed bullpen and forces Detroit to reconfigure late-inning roles with the postseason looming. But the team has pitching depth both at the big league level and organizationally.