LOS ANGELES — Yoshinobu Yamamoto left the Dodgers’ game against the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night because of what the team described as triceps tightness after throwing two scoreless innings.
Yamamoto’s fastball did not seem nearly as crisp in the second inning, and there was an increased use of sliders and curveballs to get through it.
The SportsNet LA television broadcast showed a replay of pitching coach Mark Prior flagging down manager Dave Roberts and bringing him back to the locker room in the bottom half of the inning.
Right-hander Michael Grove replaced Yamamoto, who allowed one hit and one walk while striking out one, to start the third.
Yamamoto, 25, is in the first year of a potential 12-year, $325 million contract after the Dodgers won the bidding war for the Japanese right-hander. He had a 6-2 record with 3.00 ERA in 13 starts for the Dodgers coming into Saturday.
More to come on this story