The Los Angeles Dodgers activated Yoshinobu Yamamoto off the 60-day injured list and designated Nick Ramirez for assignment to make room on their 40-man and active rosters.
Ramirez joined the Dodgers on Sunday for his second stint with the club after being designated for assignment on July 30.
He ended up pitching two innings against the Cubs on Monday, allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits with one strikeout and no walks.
Ramirez has posted a 6.08 ERA in eight games while striking out five over 13.1 innings with a 1.88 WHIP. The 35-year-old made 25 appearances with Triple-A Oklahoma City this season, going a combined 3-1 with a 4.65 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 31.0 innings.
He was acquired from the New York Yankees on April 2 for cash considerations. Ramirez is a combined 7-7 with a 4.20 ERA in 103 Major League appearances with the Detroit Tigers (2019-2020), San Diego Padres (2021), Yankees (2023) and Dodgers (2024).
Yoshinobu Yamamoto starts vs. Cubs
Yamamoto returns Tuesday to start in the middle game of the series against the Chicago Cubs. He takes the mound for the Dodgers for first time since he went on the injured list June 16 due to an official designation of right triceps tightness that was more of a rotator cuff strain.
The right-hander has steadily worked his way through a rehab process and completed his second Minor League start with the Oklahoma City Baseball Club on Sept. 3. Yamamoto threw a bullpen session last week and came out of it without issues, keeping him on track to return Tuesday.
It’s been a long process for Yamamoto, and he will be limited upon his return. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated Yamamoto could get to four innings if all goes well, but it would not be surprising if he ends up throwing fewer than that amid a limit of 60 pitches.
Yamamoto will need to treat these his next few outings somewhat as rehab starts as he continues to build his arm back up and stretch out. The Dodgers are hopeful the 26-year-old still has time to be fully ready in time for playoffs.
Yamamoto is 6-2 with a 2.92 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 14 starts this season.
Yamamoto signed a 12-year contract with the Dodgers on December 27, 2023 after spending seven seasons with the Orix Buffaloes of the Nippon Professional Baseball League, posting a 70-29 record, 1.82 ERA and 922 strikeouts in 172 games.
In 2023, he helped guide the Buffaloes to the Nippon Pacific League pennant and to the Japan Series Championship. He was named the Nippon Pacific League Most Valuable Player for a third straight season, winning the Japanese pitching triple crown, leading the league in wins (16), strikeouts (169) and ERA (1.21) over 164 innings in 23 games.
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