ATLANTA – Yoshinobu Yamamoto will take the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers in a critical Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves and their ace, Chris Sale. The series is tied at one game apiece, making this matchup at Truist Park pivotal for the Dodgers' season.
Yamamoto has a history of performing in high-stakes games, including closing out a World Series and winning elimination games. However, he acknowledges the unique pressure of facing a pitcher of Sale's caliber in a game of this magnitude. "He's the ultimate pitcher," Yamamoto said through a translator.
The stakes are immense, as the winner of this game will gain a significant advantage in the best-of-five series. "It’s an important game that will determine the flow of the series," Yamamoto stated, "so I’ll do my best to win."
This pitching duel is a rematch of a regular-season game on Aug. 27 in Atlanta. In that contest, Yamamoto allowed one run over 6 1/3 innings, but Chris Sale responded with a complete-game shutout, securing a 1-0 victory for the Braves. "I was really upset that I lost, of course," Yamamoto commented. "But tomorrow will be a new game and I’ll focus on tomorrow."
Yamamoto has historically performed better on the road than at home, posting a 3.13 ERA at Dodger Stadium compared to a 1.77 ERA elsewhere during the regular season. His track record at Truist Park is particularly strong, with a 0.55 ERA and a .158 opponent batting average in three career starts against the Braves there. "It’s always a festive atmosphere and the fans are very passionate," Yamamoto said. "I really like playing here."
The pitcher's postseason resilience was evident in the 2024 NLDS, where he pitched five innings in a Game 5 elimination game against the San Diego Padres after a difficult start earlier in the series. That performance boosted his confidence, leading to a solid 2.49 ERA in 30 starts in the subsequent regular season.
His 2024 postseason continued with consecutive complete games against the Milwaukee Brewers and Toronto Blue Jays. In the World Series, trailing three games to two, Yamamoto won Game 6 to force a Game 7. Despite pitching just one day prior, he also came out of the bullpen to secure the final outs of the Dodgers' championship victory.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed confidence in Yamamoto, stating, "There should be a lot of talk about Chris Sale, but our guy has been pretty dang good and has been a very good pitcher in the postseason."
Yamamoto recently threw approximately 70 pitches in a simulated game, facing teammate Shohei Ohtani. The two last faced each other in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball in 2017. "I received a lot of advice from Ohtani-san – about hitter’s eye levels and thinking," Yamamoto shared.
Prepared for a significant workload, Yamamoto indicated his readiness to contribute in any capacity needed, mirroring his availability in the previous postseason. "Of course, I’m preparing with the idea of doing everything I can," he said. First, however, he must overcome the challenge presented by Chris Sale.