The Los Angeles Dodgers got their $325 million man back Tuesday after a three-month absence.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who signed the largest contract ever for a pitcher last December after leaving the top league in Japan, was activated from the 60-day injured list Tuesday in advance of his return start against the Chicago Cubs.
His opponent? Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga, whose rookie season has outshined his higher-paid countryman in 2024.
Yamamoto, 25, was 6-2 with a 2.92 ERA in 14 starts when he was felled by a strained rotator cuff June 15.
Imanaga, a 31-year-old left-hander, made the National League All-Star team amid a superlative 12-3 campaign. He holds a 2.99 ERA through 26 starts.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JULY 21: Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18, Shohei Ohtani #17 and Teoscar Hernandez #37 in the dugout during the game against the Boston Red Sox at Dodger Stadium on July 21, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Yamamoto starts Tuesday.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images
Imanaga might be the only pitcher between the two who collects Rookie of the Year votes after signing a two-year, $22.5 million contract through next season. But Yamamoto has the better chance of pitching meaningful games a month from now.
The Dodgers (86-58) are tied with the Philadelphia Phillies for the best record in MLB. They lead the second-place San Diego Padres by 5.5 games in a competitive National League West. If the season ended today, the Dodgers would be assured of a first-round bye into the NL Division Series.
The Cubs (74-70) would miss the postseason for the second straight year. They’re five games behind the New York Mets for the third and final NL Wild Card berth.
The Dodgers are counting on Yamamoto to be the pitcher they expected when the season began.
Other than trade deadline acquisition Jack Flaherty, the Dodgers’ starting rotation contains few known quantities. Yamamoto is joining Bobby Miller as the only two pitchers among the Dodgers’ healthy starters on Opening Day still on the active roster. And Miller (2-4, 7.79) is playing out the string on a disappointing season, unlikely to figure into the Dodgers’ October rotation plans.
The Dodgers are hoping that Gavin Stone (shoulder), Clayton Kershaw (bone spur) and Tyler Glasnow (elbow) are able to return from the injured list in time to join Flaherty on the postseason roster. But each is far from certain.
Yamamoto, too, has something to prove. With three weeks remaining in the regular season, he has little time to shake off the rust from his extended stay on the injured list. When healthy, he’s shown tremendous promise.
In a corresponding roster move, the Dodgers designated left-handed reliever Nick Ramirez for assignment for the second time this season. Despite being optioned and recalled from Triple-A five times, and having his contract purchased again over the weekend, the former Yankee has made only eight appearances for Los Angeles this season.
