Dodgers prioritized Yoshinobu Yamamoto's long-term health

The Los Angeles Dodgers will be without Tyler Glasnow, Gavin Stone and Clayton Kershaw for the start of the National League Division Series, but received a crucial boost when Yoshinobu Yamamoto returned earlier this month after being out since mid-June.

Yamamoto was placed on the 15-day injured list on June 16 due to a detected right triceps strain. However, managers Dave Roberts and Yamamoto believed the injury was more like a rotator cuff strain.

He went through a lengthy recovery process that included two rehab starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City. Yamamoto pitched two innings in both games but failed to go beyond that.

Yamamoto's return came at a time when the Dodgers rotation was in dire need. However, the team remained committed to prioritizing its long-term health, as Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic explained:

“You want to do what’s best for Yoshinobu and make sure he’s healthy now and long-term,” Roberts said. “That is the priority. Whatever you make of it, you make of it. So we’ll just get him back to health and put the other things aside.”

Since coming off the 60-day injured list, Yamamoto has made three starts. He is scheduled to take the mound on Saturday for one final practice of the regular season.

The game is Yamamoto's second consecutive game against the Colorado Rockies. The right-hander struggled against them last week, managing to last only three innings due to ineffectiveness and a high pitch count.

While maintaining health is the most important aspect of Yamamoto's start at Coors Field, it would be beneficial if he could go more than five innings to further strengthen his base heading into the NL Division Series.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the Dodgers' NLDS rotation

Roberts revealed that the Dodgers plan to have Jack Flaherty, Walker Buehler, Landon Knack and Yamamoto in their starting lineup for the NLDS, with the order not yet determined.

Assuming his health, Yamamoto was a starter for the Dodgers in October. The only question left to answer is in which NLDS game Yamamoto will make his postseason debut.

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