Yoshinobu

Yamamoto

We’re unwilling to speculate on exactly how the six-man rotation will be comprised, but it’s a logical solution to accommodate Ohtani’s return to pitching, which Gomes added likely won’t be on Opening Day in Tokyo following offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder. There should be a clearer timetable for his return to the mound at some point during spring training. The move also builds in some extra rest for Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow, who dealt with their share of injuries last year. With Clayton Kershaw, Jack Flaherty and Walker Buehler hitting free agency, fantasy managers should anticipate Los Angeles adding at least a couple veteran starters during the offseason to bolster their depth heading into 2025.

Yamamoto gave up one hit, walked two and struck out four. The only hit he allowed was a solo home run by Juan Soto in the third inning. Yamamoto was dominant otherwise as he turned in his best playoff start yet at the perfect time to give the Dodgers a 2-0 lead in the series. He’ll only pitch again if the series ends up going six games.

While the Dodgers have had success with bullpen games in these playoffs, it always made the most sense for them to go with Jack Flaherty and Yamamoto in the first two games of the World Series. The Dodgers have won each of Yamamoto’s last two starts in the playoffs (NLCS Game 4 and NLDS Game 5). Walker Buehler is the only other starting pitcher to start for the Dodgers this postseason. It’s unclear when or if the Dodgers will go with a bullpen game in this series.

Yamamoto gave up four hits, walked one and struck out eight. He hasn’t pitched more than five innings in any of his three playoff starts, but that hasn’t been a problem. If Yamamoto can give the Dodgers a solid five innings, they’ll take it and that’s just about what he was able to provide in Game 4. Yamamoto turned the game over to the Dodgers bullpen, which has been a tremendous strength of the team this October. Los Angeles is now one win away from the World Series. Yamamoto’s next start is likely to come on baseball’s biggest stage.

Roberts added that Jack Flaherty would pitch Game 5 on regular rest, though the pitching plan will depend on the next two games. Yamamoto fired five scoreless innings in the Dodgers’ Game 5 win in the NLDS against the Padres on Friday. This would be the first road playoff start of his MLB career.

Yamamoto gave up two hits, walked one and struck out two. In one of the biggest games in the history of Japanese baseball, one that featured Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani and Yu Darvish, Yamamoto set the tone for the Dodgers early on. It was clear from the first inning that Yamamoto was much sharper than he was in Game 1 when he allowed five runs. The Padres never got anything going against the 26-year-old right-hander and now the Dodgers are moving on to the NLCS against the Mets.

While a pitching plan hasn’t been finalized yet, Roberts said Yamamoto will be a part of it. Yamamoto allowed five runs in three innings and took the loss in Game 1 of the series. It remains unclear if Yamamoto will start the game or if Los Angeles will use an opener.

Yamamoto’s first playoff start was a disappointing one, and continues a theme for Dodger starters over the past few postseasons. He allowed three runs in the first including a two-run homer to Manny Machado. He settled down in the second, but he gave up two more runs in the third on a double by Xander Bogaerts, and he finished the start with just one strikeout against two walks and five hits. Yamamoto will likely start again in Game 5 if necessary, but throwing just 60 pitches could make him eligible to pitch earlier if the Dodgers were so inclined.

A Game 3 starter still hasn’t been revealed yet. The reasoning for the Dodgers going with Flaherty in Game 2 now is that he would be more accustomed to pitching with regular rest in a Game 5 if necessary.

It looks like the Dodgers trust Flaherty a little more than Yamamoto in a potential Game 5. A Game 3 starter was not revealed, though it’s expected that Walker Buehler would get the ball then. Landon Knack is the other option.