The Major League Baseball season is approaching its final month and we are facing some exciting moments as the year ends. Several teams in each league have what it takes to win the World Series, but only one will emerge victorious.
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One of the better teams in baseball this year has been the Los Angeles Dodgers, even though the organization has been plagued by injuries of all kinds throughout the year. Especially on the pitching staff, Los Angeles has found a way to defy all of these problems and prevail.
The Dodgers have been without one of their aces for a long time, but could soon get him back. Right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto appears to be on track to return to the starting lineup in September.
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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts spoke to reporters on Friday and gave the update.
“I think so,” Roberts said when asked if that expectation was fair. “Yeah, if it’s the three innings and then he goes out and does three or four innings to rehab, then we can make a decision.”
Yamamoto has been out since straining his rotator cuff in June. He had just started to get it together on the mound, so his injury was unfortunate.
However, it looks like we could see the rookie right-hander back on the mound soon. The newcomer threw 17 pitches in a bullpen session on August 10 before the Dodgers’ series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals.
“The feeling was pretty good,” Yamamoto said through an interpreter. “Everything is starting to fit together.”
Yamamoto had the potential to win Rookie of the Year honors, posting a 2.92 ERA and a 6-2 record in 14 starts. In his final start before his injury, Yamamoto shut down the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium, going seven scoreless innings while striking out seven batters.
Having him back on the mound could be the difference between the Dodgers truly contending for the World Series or falling short again. Yamamoto was one of the biggest offseason additions last winter, landing in Los Angeles on a 12-year contract worth $325 million.
If he can get back to form with the Dodgers and make a few starts before the postseason begins, Los Angeles could be extremely dangerous in the playoffs.
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