Cody Snavely
Prior to yesterday’s defensive blunder in the eighth inning, which ultimately led to a 6-3 Dodgers loss, we got plenty of updates on many players as we approach the final stretch of the 2024 Major League Baseball regular season.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, in his pregame scrum, gave updates on Glasnow, Hernández, and an update on right-handed pitcher Tony Gonsolin, who has missed the entire 2024 season rehabbing from his own Tommy John Surgery.
Yamamoto dazzles in his return from 60-day injured list
As the Los Angeles Dodgers enter the final stretch of the regular season with less than eighteen games remaining, their starting rotation remains a huge question mark before the calendar turns to October.
Despite the challenges, the Dodgers’ starting rotation has shown remarkable resilience. The team has lost veteran left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw to a toe injury, right-handed pitcher Tyler Glasnow in mid-August to right elbow tendonitis, and finally, rookie right-handed pitcher Gavin Stone to shoulder inflammation after not missing a turn in the rotation all year.
However, perhaps the biggest loss this season was when newly acquired right-handed pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto was placed on the 60-day injured list in mid-June due to a strained rotator cuff.
After months of rest and rehab and two minor league rehab starts in which the righty pitched a total of four innings, he would make his much-needed return against the red-hot Chicago Cubs and look fantastic.
Yamamoto pitched four innings of one-run ball, striking out eight Cubs hitters. He kicked off the game by striking out four of the first five batters he faced.
Who knows how the game would have turned out if it had not been for a pitch count limit? Because this was Yamamoto’s first big league start in over two months, the Dodgers had a strict pitch limit on the righty, with Dave Roberts stating it was around fifty pitches.
Despite the brutal loss late in the game, one massive positive takeaway is just how brilliant Yamamoto looked on the mound. With three weeks left of the season and around two to three more starts to get ready for October, his return could be a game-changer. If we get this version of Yamamoto down the stretch, it will be a massive boost for the Dodgers.
Tyler Glasnow completes second bullpen; will face live hitters this week
Prior to yesterday’s game, right-handed pitcher Tyler Glasnow, who has been on the 15-day injured list since late August, threw his second bullpen, incorporating his entire pitch mix.
According to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, the bullpen session went well. By the end of this week, Glasnow will face live hitters for two to three innings. After that, Glasnow can rejoin the Dodgers and continue to build up his innings before the regular season is over.
Glasnow has stated numerous times that he will rejoin the team before the regular season is over. With him throwing two bullpen sessions this past week, the last box to check will be in Atlanta.
If the Dodgers can get Yamamoto and Glasnow built up enough for October, it will massively boost the entire Dodgers team, which has gotten healthy over the last two months with Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, and Tommy Edman all returning on offense.
Gonsolin makes first rehab appearance
Hidden in all the chaos of what seems like an infinite number of pitching injuries this season, right-handed pitcher Tony Gonsolin has made his first minor league rehab appearance since undergoing season-ending Tommy John Surgery last year.
Gonsolin had a career year during the 2022 season, winning sixteen games while only losing one, posting a 2.14 ERA in a career-high 130.0 innings pitched.
At the tail end of the season, Gonsolin was placed on the 15-day injured list due to a right forearm strain, which would linger into the 2023 season and saw Gonsolin’s ERA jump to 4.98 in 103.0 innings.
After the all-star break, Gonsolin and the Dodgers announced that the righty had been pitching with a torn UCL and would finally undergo season-ending surgery, with an eye on a late 2024 return.
Fast-forward to today and Gonsolin has completed a massive step in his recovery process. He pitched two good innings, allowing two hits, no runs, and striking out three hitters for Triple-A OKC.
When Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was asked about Gonsolin’s start, he mentioned it would be hard for Tony to make it to the big league club given the date on the calendar but admires Gonsolin’s determination to make an impact this season.
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