The Dodgers fell behind in their 2024 National League Division Series against the Padres primarily because of the same reasons they were upset by the Diamondbacks last October: starting pitching.
In a month often dominated by pitchers, the Dodgers just didn't look like they had enough reliable arms over the first three games of the series. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Jack Flaherty and Walker Buehler all struggled, putting Los Angeles in a 2-1 hole.
When manager Dave Roberts put the ball back in Yamamoto's hands for Friday's decisive Game 5, then, a strong start seemed like a tough ask. But the Japanese-born rookie rose to the occasion when the lights shined the brightest.
Here's a look at Yamamoto's dominant start against the Padres as the Dodgers try to advance in the winner-take-all game.
LIVE: Follow updates from Padres vs. Dodgers Game 5
Yoshinobu Yamamoto stats today
Yamamoto tossed five shutout innings in Game 5, allowing just two hits and a walk while striking out two batters.
Yamamoto didn't rack up the strikeouts, but it didn't matter. The Padres didn't get many balls out of the infield, and the only blemishes beyond the walk came when Kyle Higashioka and Luis Arraez delivered back-to-back singles in the third inning. The inning ended when Yamamoto induced a double-play ground ball from Fernando Tatis immediately after.
Dodger Stadium is at max volume tonight 😳
— MLB (@MLB) October 12, 2024
Sound up for this Yamamoto K #NLDS pic.twitter.com/bASpASZp62
Shohei Ohtani loved what he saw from his teammate, giving Yamamoto a pat on the head in the dugout.
Shohei patting Yamamoto on his head like he's Decoy. 🐶 G'boy. pic.twitter.com/bSSz27Lxuo
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 12, 2024
Five shutout innings should be expected from a pitcher on a $325 million contract, but Yamamoto had made it past the fourth inning just once since returning from a shoulder injury that cost him nearly three months — and even then, in his final regular-season start, he just made it through the fifth inning.
As expected, he's been a bit wobbly since getting back on the mound. The Padres teed off on Yamamoto in Game 1, plating five runs in three innings. In Game 5, though, he stood strong, and his countryman Ohtani celebrated with him again as he entered the dugout after his fifth and final inning.
wait for it 🦖 pic.twitter.com/dbPoNJsrNw
— MLB (@MLB) October 12, 2024
Roberts put his trust in Yamamoto in Game 5 at least partly because his options were thin, and it paid off. If this turns into a championship run for the Dodgers, it likely will not have been possible without the rookie's NLDS Game 5 start.
