Big Dodgers change leads to Yoshinobu Yamamoto ‘mess’ in Diamondbacks game
Context:
The Los Angeles Dodgers faced a challenging game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, resulting in a 5-3 loss, despite having their ace pitcher, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, on the mound. For the first time in the season, Yamamoto struggled significantly, giving up five earned runs, including a grand slam, which increased his ERA from 0.90 to 1.80. This performance dip coincided with a change in Yamamoto's pitching schedule, reducing his rest days from six to five due to injuries among other Dodgers pitchers. The adjustment in his routine might have contributed to his off night, as Yamamoto was accustomed to a different schedule in Japan. As the Dodgers continue to navigate the season amidst pitching challenges, they face the risk of falling into a wild-card position if such issues persist.
Dive Deeper:
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Dodgers' ace pitcher, encountered his first significant setback of the season, allowing five earned runs in five innings, including a grand slam, against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Yamamoto's ERA rose from a pristine 0.90 to 1.80 after the game, marking a stark contrast to his early-season performance where he exhibited exceptional control and command.
The Dodgers made a strategic decision to alter Yamamoto's pitching schedule from six to five days of rest due to injuries suffered by other key pitchers like Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell.
In Japan, Yamamoto was accustomed to a longer rest period between starts, which might have impacted his performance following the adjustment to the U.S. norm of five days' rest.
As the season progresses, the Dodgers are under pressure to adapt and maintain their standing in the division, with the looming threat of falling into a wild-card race if current challenges persist.
The Dodgers are keen to avoid a situation where they are forced to grind through the division race during the crucial stretch run of the season, given the early wave of pitching injuries they have faced.
The team's decision to push Yamamoto to the U.S. standard of rest is a testament to the current strain on their pitching roster, with the hope that Yamamoto can adjust and regain his early-season form.
The Los Angeles Dodgers took a loss as division play began on Thursday night.
Facing off against the National League West rival Arizona Diamondbacks, the Dodgers fell 5-3 even though they had their best pitcher on the mound. Yoshinobu Yamamoto gave up five earned runs in five innings, including a grand slam for the first time in his Major League Career, and his pristine 0.90 ERA rose to 1.80.
It was the first time Yamamoto has run into real trouble this season and it came after the Dodgers made a big change to his schedule.
“Yamamoto had seemingly been in control of everything through his first seven starts,” Fabian Ardaya wrote for The Athletic. “In his eighth, the first one he’s made on five days’ rest instead of his typical six, he lacked control of anything. He created a mess in the fourth inning…”
The Dodgers seemed to have little choice but to ask Yamamoto to carry a heavier load. In Japan, where Yamamoto enjoyed a stellar career before joining the Dodgers, starting pitchers typically get six days off between starts. But with several pitchers on the injured list, including frontline starters Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell, the Dodgers opted to push Yamamoto to the U.S. norm of five days’ rest.
It’s unclear how much the limited rest played into Yamamoto’s off night. But as the season wears on and the Dodgers continue to face significant challenges within the division, it seems their ace will have to adjust.
“The last thing they want, in a year they’ve already dealt with an early wave of pitching injuries, is to be grinding through a division race during the stretch run of the season, or be in any danger of falling to a wild-card place,” Jack Harris wrote for the Los Angeles Times. “The way the division has played to this point, however, keeps those outcomes as real possibilities.”
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