NEW YORK \u2014 The Los Angeles Dodgers settled for a split in Sunday\u2019s doubleheader, but still sparked their start to the second half with a convincing series win at the New York Yankees thanks to a complete game from Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 1.<\/p>\n
Sunday also brought unfavorable news regarding Shohei Ohtani and Will Smith. Ohtani will be out of the rotation indefinitely<\/a> as the Dodgers continue to monitor left knee irritation that has pestered their two-way star since mid-June. Smith, who has been sidelined since early June with an inflamed disc in his neck, was shut down from all baseball activity over the All-Star break. The earliest he could return, per manager Dave Roberts, is mid-August.<\/p>\n Still, according to multiple team sources familiar with the Dodgers\u2019 thinking, neither injury will have much impact on the team\u2019s trade deadline strategy. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not permitted to discuss the subject publicly.<\/p>\n Despite Smith\u2019s prolonged absence, the Dodgers do not plan to pursue major-league catching depth and will continue to rely on Dalton Rushing for the bulk of the starts. Ohtani\u2019s uncertainty hasn\u2019t provided extra incentive to push for Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, who will be the top player available this deadline \u2014 should the Tigers (who sit just 4 1\/2 games out of a playoff spot in the meek American League) decide to make him available.<\/p>\n 2026 Aces Project update: MLB insiders rank starting pitchers<\/p>\n Andy McCullough<\/p>\n Things remain status quo for president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and the Dodgers. Similar to last year\u2019s deadline, they\u2019ll look to improve on the margins but refrain from big splashes that could harm the club\u2019s depth and projected future. Bulking up their minor-league system, perhaps by trading away some of their outfield prospects<\/a>, remains a priority. But the team\u2019s most impactful acquisitions might come internally.<\/p>\n Blake Snell, Edwin D\u00edaz and Kik\u00e9 Hern\u00e1ndez have all started rehab assignments. There is a chance D\u00edaz (elbow surgery) can return on the team\u2019s current trip. If not, he\u2019s likely to be back around the same time as Hern\u00e1ndez (oblique strain), who will be activated off the IL on July 28, assuming his rehab stint goes as planned.<\/p>\n Snell (elbow surgery) made his first rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he recorded four outs on 32 pitches. His next start will come Friday, with a target of three innings. Once Snell is stretched out to five innings or 75 pitches, the Dodgers will activate him off the IL and insert him back into the starting rotation. Provided he does not experience any setbacks, that puts his targeted return right around the Aug. 3 trade deadline.<\/p>\n That lines up perfectly with the Dodgers\u2019 internal thinking. Outside of Skubal, there are few arms that can rival the impact that Snell\u2019s return is expected to have. That should buy more time for Tyler Glasnow as he recovers from persistent back spasms that have cost him nearly three months of the season. Glasnow threw his second fastball-only bullpen last week at Dodger Stadium and is progressing toward facing live hitters. He remains at least a couple of weeks away from starting a rehab assignment.<\/p>\n Yoshinobu Yamamoto finishes off his first career regular season complete game with a painted strikeout \ud83d\ude2e\u200d\ud83d\udca8 https:\/\/t.co\/anFkoA4Shc<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/sGrmZBMSJw<\/a><\/p>\n