Marlins starter Jordan Yamamoto seeks turnaround against the Dodgers

Can Marlins starting pitcher Jordan Yamamoto turn things around against the Los Angeles Dodgers at home?

Jordan Yamamoto has a chance to turn his fortunes around for the Miami Marlins.

After a fast start to his major league debut, the 23-year-old rookie has fallen on hard times. Four straight wins have been followed by three losses that have made him look pedestrian. And facing the Los Angeles Dodgers at home in such a precarious position doesn’t bode well for him or his team.

Coming off a disappointing road trip, only to face the Atlanta Braves before entering a series with the National League West leader doesn’t help the team’s chances of bettering it’s 2018 record, either.

As of now, Yamamoto has a 4-3 record with a 4.17 ERA. He has looked good at times in his last three starts, but an inning or two has become his unraveling. He must learn to be more consistent in his approach. In 54 innings pitched this season, over 10 starts, he has 55 strikeouts.

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Looking at the bigger picture, with three weeks until major-league teams expand their rosters, the Marlins must watch their young starter and wonder whether he will remain in the rotation as other pitchers make their case to not only join the team in September but earn the right to start.

Yamamoto was off to a sizzling start, which was a godsend for the organization with its rash of injuries to its starting rotation. The Marlins figure to give Edward Cabrera, Sixto Sanchez, and Jorge Guzman a long look before determining which arm is joining the pitching staff. Either one of them could supplant Yamamoto or another starter who hasn’t shown consistency on the mound.

The Marlins must also decide if Elieser Hernandez will continue as a starter or will he return to the bullpen where he has been effective.

There’s also talk of the Marlins may go with a six-man rotation. And let’s not forget Pablo Lopez is close to returning to the team, and at some point, before the end of the season Jose Urena will be back from a herniated disc injury. He figures to move to the bullpen and could serve the team in its closer role.

Known as a strikeout pitcher, Yamamoto was called up prior to the All-Star break from AA Jacksonville, where he was mowing down batters in the Southern League for the Jumbo Shrimp.