Dodgers will keep giving Yoshinobu Yamamoto extra rest even in postseason

Yamamoto was used to pitching once a week in Japan so the Dodgers have given him at least five days off before every start this season. Dave Roberts says they won’t ask him to pitch more frequently in the postseason.

Sep 17, 2024 - 05:00

Dodgers will keep giving Yoshinobu Yamamoto extra rest even in postseason

ATLANTA — When they signed Yoshinobu Yamamoto last winter, the Dodgers made a commitment to keeping the 26-year-old right-hander on a schedule as close as possible to what he was used to in Japan.

That meant giving him at least five days off before every start. It didn’t prevent him from getting injured and spending three months on the sidelines with a strained rotator cuff.

But it won’t change in October. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Yamamoto will get at least five days off before every postseason start as well.

“I’m not saying it isn’t a possibility but it’s still unlikely,” Roberts said of starting Yamamoto on ‘regular’ rest (four days off) in the postseason. “With what we’ve done, we’re going to try to give him as much rest as he’s had.

“When we acquired him, this is something we planned on doing.”

In Japan, Yamamoto was used to pitching once a week. The Dodgers have started Yamamoto on five days of rest eight times, six or more days eight times. Roberts acknowledged that the Dodgers might have tried to work in a start or two on four days of rest at some point during the season if Yamamoto had stayed healthy but “it wasn’t to be.”

With travel days built in, keeping Yamamoto to five (or more) days off between starts might not be difficult. But it is another factor to consider for a Dodgers team likely to enter the postseason trying to get all they can out of their two most reliable, healthy starters – Yamamoto and Jack Flaherty.

“We’ve got to figure out how best to keep him fresh, sharp, prepared, number one,” Roberts said. “Then number two, fill in the pieces. Shoot, I’d love to have four guys that can go on short rest or regular rest but it’s just not feasible.”

ROSTER MOVES

Catcher Austin Barnes suffered a fracture in his left big toe when he was hit by a foul ball in the third inning of Sunday night’s game. He was placed on the injured list and Hunter Feduccia was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

This is the second fracture in the same toe suffered by Barnes. He spent time on the IL last month with the first injury and was able to return in 10 days. Roberts said the Dodgers hope to have Barnes back from this injury in time for the postseason.

Meanwhile, relief pitcher Joe Kelly completed his rehab assignment with OKC and joined the Dodgers in Atlanta on Monday. The right-hander was not activated from the IL but will be at some point this week, Roberts said.

GLASNOW CLARIFICATION

Roberts said he exchanged texts with right-hander Tyler Glasnow and clarified why Glasnow left the team and why Roberts said on Sunday he did not know where Glasnow went.

“Basically, I knew he was going to be gone. I just don’t feel it needed to be public information where he’s going,” Roberts said. “It’s certainly an excused absence. Obviously he’s very disappointed and frustrated. I supported the fact that he needed to be away and that’s okay.”

Roberts said the absence does not involve Glasnow getting his injured elbow examined. He is expected to rejoin the Dodgers when they return to Los Angeles later this week.

ALSO

Left-hander Anthony Banda is at the Dodgers’ complex in Arizona “playing catch,” Roberts said, and has not been ruled out for a return “before the end of the season.”

Banda broke his left hand when he punched a “solid object” after a poor outing last week.