The Los Angeles Dodgers are starting to look more like a contender again.
Their injury woes have started to level out. Their lineup looks deep and formidable again, while their pitching rotation is getting some much-needed stability.
One of the most crucial injuries to their rotation was a rotator cuff strain to star rookie right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto in mid-June. There was some question about whether he'd return in 2024, but he's scheduled for a rehab start Wednesday for Triple-A Oklahoma City according to the Dodgers. He'll throw two innings in that start with at least one more rehab start after that. The club is hopeful he'll return to the Big Leagues at some point in early-to-mid September.
This is an ideal setup for the rookie, who posted a 2.92 ERA in 74 innings across 14 starts before his injury.
Yamamoto will now get to return in time to get a few regular-season starts in to ramp up for the playoffs. He's unlikely to go deep into his first couple of outings, but an early September return would give him an opportunity to stretch out before the playoffs in case the club wants him to go seven or eight innings.
Injuries can never be classified as 'good,' but there may be a silver lining for Yamamoto. His ability to pitch a full slate of MLB starts plus a postseason was in question. Now he'll be coming back in September with fewer than 80 innings under his belt. Once he's back at full strength, there shouldn't be any questions about his ability to finish out his rookie season as strong as he started it.
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