IL stay a 'high possibility' for Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto

A trip to the injured list due to triceps tightness is a "high possibility" for Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, manager Dave Roberts said.

"The next steps will be to consult with the doctors and see if he needs testing," Roberts said after the Dodgers' 7-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Saturday. "Right now, we're going by what he is saying and feeling."

The Japanese hurler said he felt comfortable to start on Saturday.

"I did have tightness and I was aware of it (during the bullpen session), but it wasn't serious at that point. As I was pitching, it started growing," Yamamoto said through an interpreter, per ESPN. "I let coaches know, and we decided to pull me."

Yamamoto met with the Dodgers trainer in the clubhouse and was removed from the game after throwing 28 pitches over two scoreless innings. Yamamoto's fastball velocity was in the 93-96 mph range, slightly off his season average during his two innings.

Yamamoto gave up one hit and a walk with one strikeout. Right-hander Michael Grove took over for Yamamoto.

Yamamoto, 25, was pitching on an extra two days of rest after his scheduled Thursday start against the Texas Rangers was pushed back.

He is 6-2 with a 2.92 ERA in 14 games (all starts) during his first year with the Dodgers after signing a 12-year, $325 million contract last December. He played seven seasons in Japan previously.

--Field Level Media