The Los Angeles Dodgers recently experienced a lift of spirits in their pitching staff when Yoshinobu Yamamoto returned to the mound after a three-month hiatus. Despite suffering from a strained rotator cuff on June 15, Yamamoto displayed a strong performance against the Chicago Cubs, limiting them to only one run in four innings of work. His fastball consistently reached over 96 mph, his splitter and curveball were devastating, and his overall command was impressive. This comeback was unexpected and welcomed by the team, with Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes stating, “I didn’t know how he was gonna look coming back from this, and he looked better than ever.”
The Dodgers, who have been struggling with injuries to their rotation throughout the season, got another positive sign when Tyler Glasnow threw his second bullpen session after being sidelined since August 11 due to elbow tendinitis. This led to him being cleared for a simulated game, showing progress towards his return. Combined with Yamamoto’s strong outing, there is a sense of optimism building within the Dodgers organization regarding their pitching staff. Manager Dave Roberts expressed his satisfaction, saying, “I feel much better about the rotation tonight than I did 24 hours ago. It’s starting to turn in terms of getting back to the rotation that we had envisioned.”
Yamamoto’s return to the mound showcased his potential as a top pitcher for the Dodgers. He started the game with three consecutive strikeouts, demonstrating his ability to overpower hitters with his arsenal of pitches. Despite a slight mishap in the second inning, Yamamoto quickly regrouped and struck out the side again when facing the top of the Cubs’ lineup in the third. His outing ended on a high note, inducing a crucial double play to escape a potential scoring situation. Speaking through an interpreter, Yamamoto expressed his satisfaction with his performance, stating, “Today’s outing turned out much better than I expected.”
With Yamamoto’s successful return, the Dodgers are looking to gradually build up his pitch count to prepare for the postseason. He is expected to be stretched out to around 75 pitches in his next start, with three more outings scheduled to fine-tune his form. Manager Roberts emphasized the importance of consistency in Yamamoto’s upcoming starts, focusing on maintaining his command and repertoire of pitches. This gradual progression is crucial for the Dodgers as they aim to solidify their rotation for the playoff push.