Yoshinobu Yamamoto understands that innings are crucial for a struggling Los Angeles Dodgers rotation that often shows “TBA” as the probable pitcher.
“Right now anything can happen in terms of injury or a mishap within the rotation,” he said through a translator.
As the Dodgers lead the New York Mets 2-1 in the National League Championship Series, Yamamoto is set to pitch Thursday night. The 5-foot-10 right-hander is one of the few remaining pitchers from a rotation that initially included Tyler Glasnow, Clayton Kershaw, Bobby Miller, James Paxton, Emmet Sheehan, and Gavin Stone, all of whom had their seasons cut short due to injuries.
Additionally, Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin spent the whole year recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Yamamoto started two games in the Division Series against San Diego, while July trade addition Jack Flaherty, Walker Buehler, and reliever Ryan Brasier each made one start.
Flaherty pitched seven scoreless innings in the NLCS opener on Sunday, a performance that has become rare for the Dodgers. Brasier was used as a one-inning opener in their Game 2 loss, and Buehler returned to pitch in Game 3 against the Mets on Wednesday night as Yamamoto prepared for his turn.
In his postseason debut, Yamamoto lasted three innings in the series opener against the Padres, leaving with a 5-3 deficit after allowing a two-run double to Xander Bogaerts in a game the Dodgers eventually won 7-5.
He then pitched five scoreless innings with just two hits against his fellow Japanese player Yu Darvish, leading the Dodgers to victory in the deciding Game 5. Yamamoto left that game after 63 pitches.
“In Game 5, I think my mechanics were much better than the first one,” he said Wednesday afternoon.
Yamamoto joined the Dodgers last winter on a 12-year contract worth $325 million, turning down offers from the New York Yankees and Mets. The right-handed pitcher, who turned 26 in August, had a record of 7-2 with a 3.00 ERA in 18 starts.
He struck out 105 batters and walked 22 in 90 innings, using six different pitches, including a fastball that averaged 95.5 mph. He was out of action from June 15 to September 10 due to triceps tightness.
During the regular season, he faced the Mets once, giving up four runs—three earned—and seven hits over six innings while striking out nine in a no-decision at Dodger Stadium on April 19.
“He’s a super-polished guy,” said Mets slugger Pete Alonso, who struck out on a low curveball, hit an RBI single on a full-count curve over the strike zone, and grounded out on a low splitter.
Last fall, Yamamoto was pitching for Orix against Hanshin in the Japan Series. He allowed seven runs in the first loss but then struck out a Japan Series record of 14 batters in a 138-pitch complete game that led to a Game 7.
“He’s pitched in big ballgames, so I knew he would step up in a big ballgame,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “He’s not physical in stature, but what he can generate as far as power is pretty remarkable.”
