The Los Angeles Dodgers went into the 2024 season planning to stick with their approach of giving the rotation extra rest between starts, and particularly so for Yoshinobu Yamamoto as he was accustomed to pitching just once a week in Japan.
The Dodgers’ cautious approach couldn’t prevent Yamamoto from being part of their long list of pitcher injuries this season, but the right-hander returned last week and has impressed through starts.
Yamamoto’s importance to the Dodgers has further increased amid news of Tyler Glasnow not being able to return in 2024 because of a right elbow sprain. Glasnow had previously been named by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts as a candidate to begin starting on regular rest down the stretch of the season to prepare for the playoffs.
“I think there’s a rough mapping out that we constantly amend and work through,” Roberts said earlier this season.
But even with that looking ahead, the Dodgers never intended to have Yamamoto start on normal rest.
“I think a priority is to make sure Yoshi stays on his extra rest,” Roberts said. “I don’t see that changing. Even through October. … I hope we’re put in that position where we have too many healthy pitchers.”
Roberts reiterated that stance while speaking with reporters during the Dodgers’ current road trip.
The Dodgers have been robbed of health in their starting rotation throughout the season, with Glasnow, Clayton Kershaw and Gavin Stone among their more recent injuries.
Kershaw likely won’t return during the regular season, and there’s still not much clarity on if he or Stone will be available come October.
Potential Yoshinobu Yamamoto postseason schedule
Given the guidelines the Dodgers have in place for Yamamoto, he likely will start a potential Game 1 of the National League Division Series to then be available if that were to extend to a Game 5.
But if that is the case and the Dodgers advanced to the NL Championship Series, Yamamoto then would not be available to pitch until a Game 4. That would leave the Dodgers with just one start from their ace in a best-of-seven series.
If the Dodgers reach the World Series, Yamamoto would be back on line to start Game 1, and then a possible Game 6 or 7 under the extra rest parameters.
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