The Los Angeles Dodgers took a 2-0 lead over the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series behind Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s terrific start.
The right-hander allowed a home run to Jackson Chourio on his first pitch of the game but was able to shut down the Brewers from there.
Yamamoto gave up just the one run on three hits and collected seven strikeouts against one walk as part of a complete-game effort.
The outing followed Blake Snell’s dominant performance in Game 1 of the NLCS, which saw him face the minimum over eight scoreless innings.
The Dodgers became the first team to have two starting pitchers complete at least eight innings in consecutive playoff games in the same series since former San Francisco Giants teammates Madison Bumgarner and Tim Lincecum in Games 4 and 5 of the 2010 World Series.
“I think if you look at the construction of our roster currently, the strength is starting pitching,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “And when you can have your most talented pitchers get the most outs, then you’re in a good spot.
“Right now, all four of those guys are in a really good headspace. Physically, they’re sound. And you feel good about those guys starting a game and pushing them. They’re prepared for this.”
Roberts typically pulls his starters early to ensure they stay fresh over the duration of the long season, but he is now more comfortable with letting them pitch deeper into games.
“I think it’s a combo of, I just think that right now each one of these guys is throwing the ball incredibly well,” Roberts began. “And obviously there’s been things with the bullpen, but just trying to find the right spots for those guys.
“But again, I think for me it just goes to kind of weighing out whoever is behind them has got to be a better option given where those guys are at. I believe in all of our pitchers, but I think in each moment, I’ve got to evaluate each game and how they’re throwing the baseball.
“And the last two nights, and even this postseason, I just feel really confident in the way the starters are attacking hitters, the efficiency, the way they’re able to mix and give hitters different looks.”
Max Muncy praises Dodgers starters
With Yamamoto’s outstanding start against the Brewers, Dodgers starting pitchers have now posted a 1.49 ERA and 0.75 WHIP in 54.1 innings this postseason.
“It’s just incredible,” Max Muncy said of the collective success by Dodgers starting pitchers. “We said before this postseason started, our starting pitching was going to be what carried us. And so far it’s been exactly that.
“I mean what’s that now? It’s eight games we played, seven quality starts. That’s pretty impressive. And if you’re trying to build the recipe to win games, that would be where you would start.”
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