Late Thursday night the Los Angeles Dodgers announced Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start Game 5 of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres.
The Dodgers were previously undecided on the direction to take their pitching staff, but tabbed their ace to face off against Yu Darvish in the winner-take-all-game. With Yamamoto getting the ball against Darvish, the game has some added significance on the international stage.
The Dodgers fanbase in Japan has already grown significantly this season with the signings of Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani, which has featured increased international viewership and sponsorship deals for the club. But if there was any more reason for Japanese fans to be locked in to Game 5, that has come to fruition with the starting pitching matchup.
Darvish facing Yamamoto is set to be the first matchup in MLB postseason history by a pair of starters who were both born in Japan, according to OptaSTATS.
The two pitchers also have a previous relationship, and they’re looking forward to competing against each other.
“I think it’s a great thing that we’re able to go at it with each other in Game 5 of an NLDS game,” Darvish said through an interpreter. “At a personal level, really good friends with him as well. And just for us to be able to go out there and pitch on the same day, a playoff game, I think it means a lot.”
Along with Darvish, Yamamoto, and Ohtani playing in Game 5, the Padres also have Yuki Matsui on their roster who could factor into the game as well.
The four Japanese players on the two playoff rosters also represents an increase to the overall talent level coming to MLB from Japan, which also has includes players such as Seiya Suzuki, Shota Imanaga and Kodai Senga.
“It gives me a lot of joy, obviously,” Darvish said. “I think the level of baseball in Japan has risen and it’s actually showing over here. So it’s really good to see all these players that come over here be successful.”
Shohei Ohtani wanted to see Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. Yu Darvish
Heading into the NLDS, there was the possibility of Yamamoto not starting until Game 2, which would have pit him against Darvish. But the Dodgers changed their plans to have Yamamoto start in Game 1.
Ohtani mentioned wanting to see his fellow countrymen get to start in the same playoff game, and he reiterated that stance on Thursday when the Dodgers had not yet named their starter.
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