The Los Angeles Dodgers put together a complete effort on Wednesday to stave off elimination and force a winner-take-all Game 5 matchup against the San Diego Padres.
The National League Division Series has been every bit of the hype it was drummed-up to be, going the distance, with outbursts of offense, bullpen dominance and emotion throughout.
Heading into Game 5, the Dodgers mulled their options for a pitching plan, ultimately deciding to pencil in Yoshinobu Yamamoto as their starter. The decision was among several the team had, with the rookie making his second postseason start.
In Game 1 of the NLDS, Yamamoto allowed five runs over three innings, a game in which the Dodgers mounted a comeback win. There was a possibility Yamamoto was tipping his pitches, an area that the team said has been cleaned up.
During the regular season, Yamamoto was a delight as he posted a 3.00 ERA, 2.61 FIP, 1.11 WHIP, with 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings. But Yamamoto’s season was interrupted by a right rotator cuff strain, but upon returning in early September, carried solid numbers over four starts into October.
Following Yamamoto is a deep collection of relief pitchers that have stymied Padres hitters. In a must-win game, the Dodgers are expected to monitor the early innings very closely and won’t hesitate to call on a reliever to right the ship.
On the opposite side is Yu Darvish, who also is making his second start of the NLDS. In Game 2, the 38-year-old hurled seven innings during a 10-2 rout of the Dodgers.
Although he struck out just three, Darvish used seven different pitches to keep the Dodgers hitters off balance, allowing three hits and one earned run. He was extremely efficient, getting ahead in a majority of counts, leading to uncomfortable at-bats.
Freddie Freeman was active during the workout on Thursday, continuing treatment on his right ankle sprain. In a game of this magnitude, Freeman unsurprisingly is slated to give it a go as he looks to help the Dodgers lineup in giving Yamamoto early run support.
Miguel Rojas is under the same lens, but isn’t in the lineup. An ongoing left adductor injury is keeping him from playing, but the Dodgers feel extremely confident that Tommy Edman can man a terrific shortstop and Kiké Hernández’s bat will play up.
Dodgers lineup
DH: Shohei Ohtani
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
LF: Teoscar Hernández
3B: Max Muncy
C: Will Smith
CF: Kiké Hernández
2B: Gavin Lux
SS: Tommy Edman
Padres lineup
1B: Luis Arraez
RF: Fernando Tatis Jr.
LF: Jurickson Profar
3B: Manny Machado
CF: Jackson Merrill
SS: Xander Bogaerts
DH: David Peralta
2B: Jake Cronenworth
C: Kyle Higashioka
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