Dodgers Notes: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki, Andrew Toles

Japan winning Pool C puts them in the final eight of the World Baseball Classic, and locks them into a quarterfinal matchup on Saturday night in Miami against the Pool D runner-up, likely either the Venezuela or the Dominican Republic.

Though nothing has yet been announced regarding Japan’s pitching plans for the next round, Saturday would presumably be when Yoshinobu Yamamoto makes his next start, after throwing 55 pitches in 2 2/3 innings in Friday’s tournament opener.

In other potential Dodgers rotation forecasting, Roki Sasaki threw a bullpen session on Sunday at Camelback Ranch and will make his next start on the backfields rather than in a Cactus League game, per Fabian Ardaya at The Athletic.

Sasaki’s spring thus far has been a mixed bag, incorporating new pitches into his repertoire. He has as many walks (five) as strikeouts in his two games, during which he allowed seven runs in 3 1/3 innings. Sasaki last pitched last Tuesday, which would likely line him up for his next outing, wherever it is, to come on Monday or Tuesday.

Andrew Toles last played professional in 2018, his third season with the Dodgers. In the next seven seasons since then, the Dodgers renewed Toles’ contract and placed him on the restricted list. Toles did not earn a salary in those years nor did he count against the 40-man roster, but was able to receive health insurance, as he dealt with various mental health issues.

This year the Dodgers cannot similarly renew Toles’ contract and place him on the restricted list according to major league rules, per Ed Guzman at the Los Angeles Times, to whom the Dodgers released his statement:

“We’ve been in contact with the Toles family and have worked together on how to best move forward,” the Dodgers said in a statement to The Times. “Continuing with the previous setup was no longer possible due to eligibility. The Toles family has asked that Andrew’s privacy be respected. Out of respect to the Toles family, we will not comment any further.”

Walker Buehler, who pitched last season for the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies, is in San Diego Padres camp this year as a non-roster invitee. I found this note from last week illuminating regarding the length of recovery time after Tommy John surgery, and the general taxing nature of pitching. From Dennis Lin at The Athletic: