Yoshinobu Yamamoto is slated to make his long-awaited return from the injured list on Tuesday after missing nearly three months due to a rotator cuff strain. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed the news Wednesday, stating that Yamamoto will take the mound against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium.
Yamamoto’s return follows two rehab starts with the Triple-A Oklahoma City team, where he pitched two innings in each outing. Over those four innings, he allowed three earned runs, struck out five, and walked two. His performance in these rehab starts has provided some optimism as the Dodgers look to regain stability in their pitching rotation.
The return of Yamamoto is timely for the Dodgers, who have struggled with injuries in their starting rotation throughout the season. Key pitchers like Clayton Kershaw and Tyler Glasnow are still working to recover, while Bobby Miller and Walker Buehler have faced challenges in returning to peak performance. With the MLB postseason less than a month away, the Dodgers are hoping for a solid and healthy rotation, especially after last year’s struggles when the Arizona Diamondbacks exploited their injury-riddled rotation.
Before his injury, Yamamoto had been a bright spot for the Dodgers. Signed to a record-breaking 12-year, $325 million contract last offseason, the Japanese star quickly proved his worth. In his 14 starts, Yamamoto posted an impressive 2.92 ERA with 84 strikeouts in 74 innings, making him a key asset to the team’s early success. However, his last appearance was cut short due to injury on June 16, via AP News.
Concerns about Yamamoto’s durability were raised when he joined MLB, primarily due to his smaller stature (5-foot-10, 176 pounds) and the transition from Japan’s weekly pitching schedule to MLB’s more frequent rotation. While this single injury doesn’t confirm those worries, it does heighten the significance of his ability to finish this season strong and solidify his future in the major leagues.
With Yamamoto’s return, the Dodgers are hopeful that their rotation can regain its strength, helping them enter the postseason with more stability and confidence.