The Los Angeles Dodgers have maintained a level of success this season because of a strong framework from their pitching staff. One of their main pieces, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, has been out for a few weeks as the team evaluates his best route to getting back on the mound.
Yamamoto posted a 2.92 ERA, 2.66 FIP, 1.07 WHIP in 74 innings pitched before being placed on the injured list. The team is undoubtedly placing a high priority on his availability down the stretch because of his early acclimation to Major League Baseball.
There hasn’t been much news on the 25-year-old, but the Dodgers revealed that he’ll soon begin playing catch next week, according to Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
Roberts said right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been working with plyo balls and could start a throwing program by playing catch towards the end of next week.
Having to operate without Yamamoto, Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw’s slowed progress, the Dodgers aren’t in a prime spot to withstand extended IL stints from a front-end arm.
The worry with a strained rotator cuff for a young pitcher also coincides with the long-term commitment the team has in him. And how they might very well shut him down if they view the big picture as a better investment.
If Yamamoto is unable to return, expect the Dodgers to be heavily involved in the starting pitcher market leading up to the July 30 trade deadline.
How impactful is Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the Dodgers rotation
Because Yamamoto is currently out, the Dodgers have needed to dip into their depth of starting pitching, while also needing to maintain a high level of performance.
Yamamoto has shown his stuff to play up when necessary, as it did against the New York Yankees in Yankee Stadium prior to his injury. As it stands, the rookie right-handed is either a key piece of a playoff rotation as one of the two, top options, or the Dodgers add a front end deadline arm to mitigate his absence.
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