Los Angeles Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman has announced that Japanese rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto will take the mound for Game One of the Division Series against the San Diego Padres on Saturday night, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Jack Flaherty will start game two on Sunday. This is a change of plans for the Dodgers’ NLDS rotation from earlier this week, when General Manager Brandon Gomes said that Flaherty would start the first game, and Yamamoto the second.
Dodgers Flip-Flop Yamamoto and Flaherty in NLDS Rotation
The Rationale
This move makes as many arms available should there be a Game Five. This means that the Japanese superstar would, in all likelihood, start the fifth game as well. This also preserves his one-outing-a-week schedule that the Dodgers have been so careful to observe.
Bright Lights and Big Games
Yamamoto is no stranger to climatic games, as he pitched for Team Japan when they won the World Baseball Classic in 2023. (Incidentally, Shohei Ohtani was also on that team.)
Furthermore, the right-hander proved his major league pedigree under the lights in Yankee Stadium. Back in June, he went seven scoreless innings, striking out seven. However, shortly after that outing, Yamamoto landed on the injured list for three months due to shoulder problems. But when healthy, he is every bit the ace. Yamamoto is 7-2 with a 3.00 ERA.
Prime Choices
The Dodgers acquired Jack Flaherty from the Detroit Tigers at the trade deadline for innings and the postseason. Thus far, Flaherty has given them just what they asked for. The right-hander has stabilized a starting rotation left in tatters by injuries. In his 10 starts, he has gone at least five innings in nine of them.
Going in Game Two allows Flaherty to pitch on regular rest as well. Perhaps more importantly, Blake Williams of Dodger Blue is reporting that Flaherty’s velocity has been down a tick due to “delivery issues.” The Dodgers are going to need every edge they can get on Saturday, and they hope this latest decision comes up aces.
