Right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto will be back with the Dodgers next week to start Tuesday’s game against the Cubs.
Yamamoto has been out since June 16 due to a rotator cuff strain. “I think the stuff will be there,” said Dave Roberts, but he’s unsure about Yamamoto’s command. The plan is for him to make four starts before postseason, building up his pitch count.
In his rehab outings, Yamamoto threw 31 and 53 pitches respectively. He’ll likely be on a pitch limit of around 65-70 pitches next week. In his last outing, former big-league catcher Omar Narváez had a marathon 17-pitch at-bat against him .
Dodgers’ Strategy:
The Dodgers need a spot starter next Tuesday, so Yamamoto will start but only for about three innings before handing over to the bullpen. Righty Landon Knack will also step in as a spot starter next Friday to give everyone extra rest.
Fans might think this cautious approach is smart given their current injuries and upcoming postseason hopes.
Twenty-two games remain for the Dodgers in the regular season. They’re without Tyler Glasnow (elbow) and Clayton Kershaw (toe), uncertain if either will return at full strength for playoffs. When Yamamoto returns, he’ll join Walker Buehler, Jack Flaherty, Bobby Miller, and Gavin Stone in the rotation.
Yamamoto had an impressive season before his injury with a 2.92 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 14 starts over 74 innings. This includes bouncing back from a rough MLB debut with a strong performance afterward—13 starts with a 2.34 ERA! The Dodgers signed him on a record-breaking $325 million contract over twelve years during the offseason.
The Dodgers currently boast baseball’s best record at 84-56 and lead NL West by 4½ games.
What do you think about Yamamoto’s return?
