The Los Angeles Dodgers received a big boost this week with Yoshinobu Yamamoto not only coming off the 60-day injured list, but dazzling in his return after missing more than two months.
Yamamoto was originally placed on the 15-day IL with an official designation of right triceps tightness, but he and manager Dave Roberts described the injury as more of a rotator cuff issue.
Also on the horizon is Tyler Glasnow, who has been out since Aug. 16 because of right elbow tendinitis. Glasnow is scheduled to face hitters in a simulated game at Truist Park on Friday.
“I feel much better about the rotation tonight than I did 24 hours ago,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said earlier this week.
“On the heels of Tyler’s bullpen and knowing he’s going to pitch on Friday in a simulated game, multiple innings, it’s starting to turn as far as kind of getting back to the rotation that we had envisioned.”
Without their top arms available for a prolonged stretch, the Dodgers have needed to rely on organizational depth to fill innings. That’s included weathering ups and downs with scuffling starters Bobby Miller, Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw, who is now out with a toe injury.
Roberts has been terrific in mixing and matching the bullpen to help carry that load, all while the Dodgers has held off the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West division hunt.
Ceiling for Dodgers starting rotation
All things considered, the Dodgers’ rotation is in a place that could be headed to a true three-headed group.
Should Yamamoto and Glasnow remain and get healthy while also finding some rhythm before October, they would combine with Jack Flaherty to give the Dodgers arguably the best trio in the postseason.
The three of them have ace-level stuff and pedigree to attack hitters on the biggest stage.
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