The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Brusdar Graterol, and Tyler Glasnow are all taking steps to return to the active roster. However, some arrival dates are more certain than others. The injured list could have fielded its own All-Star team this year as they have missed significant time. The Dodgers’ pitching depth has been hit extremely hard as they race toward October, but they are about to get some reinforcements. Here are the latest updates.
Dodgers Set to Get Internal Pitching Pitching Reinforcements
Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced that Yoshinobu Yamamoto will pitch next Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium. The right-hander has been sidelined with a strained rotator cuff/right shoulder injury since June. He had several bullpen sessions before making two rehab starts at Triple-A Oklahoma City. The latest outing was supposed to be a three-inning stint. However, it only lasted two. Yamamoto threw 53 pitches, including a 17-pitch at-bat to former big league catcher Omar Narváez.
Dave Roberts told reporters that Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start for the Dodgers next week for the first time since June 15th pic.twitter.com/EmMMHQxyml
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) September 4, 2024
It wasn’t the sharpest outing either, as the Japanese superstar allowed two runs. He did have three strikeouts, which means the velocity and “swing and miss” stuff are still there. Yamamoto only pitches once a week, so the Dodgers are hoping to get him several starts before the postseason begins. He is slated to be at the top of the postseason rotation if all goes well.
Brusdar Graterol
Brusdar Graterol has been gone most of the year with a shoulder injury sustained in spring training. Upon his return in early August, he threw less than ten pitches before suffering a grade-one hamstring strain. After an early pessimistic diagnosis, it was thought the hard-throwing reliever would be out for the rest of the season. However, the Dodgers quickly revised the prognosis, and Graterol’s return is imminent.
In his last rehab outing in Oklahoma City, the right-hander went one inning, giving up one earned run on three hits and one strikeout. There is no question that the Dodgers covet his sub-two postseason ERA in their bullpen.
Tyler Glasnow
Starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow has been out since mid-August with elbow tendinitis. Once thought to be a minor concern, it has now become a major one since the timetable for return has been pushed back a couple of times. Glasnow did throw off the mound about a week ago with no pain. The next steps are several bullpen sessions before a rehab start or two. In the words of Dave Roberts, the Dodgers “are hopeful” for a return this season. If Glasnow clears all the hurdles listed above. Los Angeles is looking for their ace to make at least one regular season start to serve as a tune-up before October arrives.
Glasnow has already pitched more innings this season than any other year of his career.
Other “Foot”notes
Future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw left his last start against the Arizona Diamondbacks with a bone spur in his left big toe. Apparently, it is something that has been bothering the left-hander off and on during his career. He is slated to return in mid-September. Kershaw is closing in on 3,000 career strikeouts, but it is unlikely that he will reach that milestone this year. As of now, it is unclear what role he would play on the postseason roster.
The Best-Laid Plans…
The Dodgers are hoping that these pitchers come back healthy and effective. In other words, nothing goes awry. Only time will tell…
Photo Credit: © Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
