Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman announced a change in postseason rotation plans as Yoshinobu Yamamoto is now due to start Game 1 of the National League Division Series.
Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes and manager Dave Roberts had previously named Jack Flaherty as the expected starter for the NLDS opener on Saturday.
Flaherty now is due to start Game 2 against the San Diego Padres.
The pitching change puts Yamamoto on track to make his MLB postseason debut on six days’ of rest. The Dodgers have ensured Yamamoto had extra rest between outings throughout the season and plan to continue with that schedule throughout October.
Yamamoto went 7-2 with a 3.00 ERA and 1.11 WHIP across 18 starts this season. He missed nearly three months because of a right rotator cuff strain and made just four starts upon returning from the 60-day injured list in September.
Yamamoto’s longest outing during that span was five innings against the Colorado Rockies on Sept. 28, which also was his final start of the season. The right-hander threw 71 pitches at Coors Field.
Roberts estimated Yamamoto will be capable of throwing 100 pitches in his postseason starts.
“That’s all predicated on how he’s throwing the baseball,” Roberts added. “But I would say that given his rest, recovery, how he’s feeling, I think the full buildup is fair.”
As for the potential of the 26-year-old feeling extra pressure with this being his first experience with October baseball, Gomes downplayed any concern.
“I think if New York was any indication, it has a chance to be pretty special,” said Gomes, alluding to Yamamoto’s brilliant performance against the New York Yankees.
“I don’t think Yam is going to be fazed by the big moment, and if anything, I think he’s going to thrive on it.”
Why is Yoshinobu Yamamoto starting Game 1?
With Yamamoto starting Saturday, he now could be utilized in a potential Game 5 as well. Whereas starting Game 2 was going to eliminate that possibility.
“It just creates options. Depending on the usage of our ‘pen, we can have one of those guys take down innings,” Friedman noted of the Dodgers’ rotation.
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