NEW YORK (AP) — Yoshinobu Yamamoto knows innings matter for a decimated Los Angeles Dodgers rotation that frequently lists TBA as a probable pitcher.
“Right now anything can happen in terms of injury or a mishap within the rotation,” he said through a translator.
Los Angeles leads the New York Mets 2-1 in the National League Championship Series going into Yamamoto's start Thursday night. A 5-foot-10 right-hander, Yamamoto is one of the few arms remaining from a projected rotation that once included Tyler Glasnow, Clayton Kershaw, Bobby Miller, James Paxton, Emmet Sheehan and Gavin Stone. All their seasons ended early because of injuries.
In addition, Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin spent the entire year recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Yamamoto started twice in the Division Series against San Diego, and July trade acquisition Jack Flaherty, Walker Buehler and reliever Ryan Brasier once each.
Flaherty pitched seven scoreless innings in Sunday's NLCS opener, a deep outing that has become a rarity for the Dodgers. Brasier was used as a one-inning opener in their Game 2 loss and Buehler returned for Game 3 against the Mets on Wednesday night as Yamamoto readied for his turn.
Yamamoto lasted three innings in his postseason debut, departing the series opener against the Padres with a 5-3 deficit after allowing Xander Bogaerts' two-run double in a game the Dodgers won 7-5.
He pitched five scoreless innings of two-hit ball to outduel Japanese countryman Yu Darvish as the Dodgers won the deciding Game 5, leaving 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 on a $325 million, 12-year contract last winter, bypassing offers from the New York Yankees and Mets. The right-hander, who turned 26 in August, was 7-2 with a 3.00 ERA in 18 starts, striking out 105 and walking 22 in 90 innings while mixing six different pitches that included a fastball averaging 95.5 mph. Yamamoto was sidelined between June 15 and Sept. 10 by triceps tightness.
He faced the Mets once during the regular season, allowing 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 in a three-pitch at-bat, hit an RBI single on a full-count curve over the heart of 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 opening loss and struck out a Japan Series-record 14 in a 138-pitch complete game that forced a Game 7.
“He’s pitched in big ballgames, so I knew he would step up in a big ballgame," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “He’s not physical in stature, but what he can generate as far as power is pretty remarkable.”
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