The Los Angeles Dodgers faced a tough loss against the Chicago Cubs, marked by sloppy defensive play and a robbed home run by Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. Despite this, the game on Tuesday night brought a glimmer of hope to the Dodgers as Yoshinobu Yamamoto made his return after a three-month hiatus. The right-handed pitcher showed that he still possessed his keen pitching abilities, limiting the Cubs to just one run in four innings of work while striking out eight batters. His fastball averaged over 96 mph and his splitter and curveball proved to be formidable weapons on the mound. The sharpness of his command was especially impressive given his extended absence from major league games since suffering a strained rotator cuff on June 15. Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes expressed his surprise at Yamamoto’s performance, stating, “I didn’t know how he was gonna look coming back from this, and he looked better than ever.”
The Dodgers have faced significant challenges with injuries to their pitching rotation throughout the season, with only Jack Flaherty being a sure bet to start in October games. However, the return of Yamamoto, along with the progress of Tyler Glasnow, who has been sidelined since August 11 due to elbow tendinitis, has provided a renewed sense of optimism. Glasnow’s successful bullpen session earned him clearance for a two- to three-inning simulated game on Friday, while Yamamoto’s strong performance showcased the potential that the Dodgers saw in him when they signed him to a record-breaking 12-year, $325 million contract. Manager Dave Roberts expressed his confidence in the rotation’s trajectory, stating, “It’s starting to turn in terms of getting back to the rotation that we had envisioned.”
Yamamoto’s outing against the Cubs was nothing short of dominant. He began the game with three consecutive strikeouts, showcasing his skills with a variety of pitches that kept the Cubs’ batters off balance. Although there were defensive mishaps that allowed the Cubs to tack on a run in the second inning, Yamamoto quickly regained control and struck out the side in the third. He concluded his performance by inducing former Dodgers prospect Michael Busch to ground into an inning-ending double play in the fourth. Reflecting on his outing, Yamamoto, speaking through an interpreter, expressed his satisfaction, saying, “Today’s outing turned out much better than I expected.”
With 59 pitches thrown, Yamamoto is expected to be stretched to about 75 pitches in his next start, giving him three more opportunities to fine-tune his skills before the postseason arrives. Manager Dave Roberts praised Yamamoto’s command and the diversity of his pitching repertoire, highlighting the importance of consistent performance as the team gears up for the playoffs. Despite the defensive lapses in the game against the Cubs, the Dodgers have found a silver lining in the return of Yamamoto and the positive steps taken towards strengthening their pitching rotation.
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