Dodgers Interview: Yamamoto Talks Game Six, availability for Saturday
TORONTO — Yoshinobu Yamamoto didn’t throw another nine-inning masterpiece, but he gave the Dodgers exactly what they needed in Game 6: six sturdy frames, one run, and the kind of poise that settles a dugout. “I focused on the start,” he said. “Last time I got into trouble early, so tonight I paid special attention to the first inning. The rhythm was good, and even though I had to pitch with runners, I kept the lead to the sixth.”
The night kept asking questions and he kept answering. “There were baserunners, but we protected the lead and passed it along,” Yamamoto said. “The bullpen held it to the end. There were jams, of course, but we won the game, so it was great.”
He expected to go deeper. “When I finished the sixth, I went back to the bench planning for one more inning,” he said. “They told me I was coming out. Protecting the lead and connecting to the next pitcher is very important, so I was happy we did that. I felt a little relief.” If the situation turns wild again on Friday, he’ll be where the club needs him. “If they ask me to go, I will,” he said. “Otherwise I’ll support the guys and be ready.”
The sixth inning was the tightest spot, two on and two out with the building lifting its voice. Yamamoto walked through the sequence like a craftsman. “In Bichette’s at-bat I got too amped,” he said. “I took a breath, took the extra force out, aimed low, and attacked. I was glad with the result.”
Toronto saw him in Game 2, so the cat-and-mouse moved fast. “It was a second look, so I was checking how they reacted to my pitches,” he said. “There was some guessing on both sides. When I wasn’t sure, I went to the splitter more. It worked to hold them to one early run.”
When asked if this elimination win felt like the World Baseball Classic duel he shared with Roki Sasaki and Shohei Ohtani. Yamamoto shook his head. “They’re different,” he said. “I feel they are completely separate.”
Fatigue was real after the marathon earlier in the series and another trip to Toronto, but he managed it. “It hasn’t been easy physically,” he said. “Two visits here in about a week. Compared to last time, my stuff felt better today. The results were six innings, some traffic, but better feel.”
There was even a mid-game curveball the schedule couldn’t plan for: a brief fan delay during the sixth. “It’s not a common break,” he said. “I didn’t like the feeling of that long pause. I threw a couple of warm-ups, felt fine, and just ignored it.”
His view of the bullpen was simple and appreciative. “They held the lead,” he said. “That was the key.” On the handoff from Justin Wrobleski to Roki Sasaki to Tyler Glasnow, he kept the praise broad. “Everyone did their job,” he said. “That’s why we’re playing tomorrow.”
As for tomorrow, he understands what the stage requires. “Every game lately feels like one you cannot drop,” he said. “Game 7 will be hard for whoever plays. The focus is the same as always.”
There is a calm to the way he talks about the biggest nights. It fits the way he pitched: measured, precise, and stubborn in the zone when the moment swelled. “I just tried to be careful at the start, keep my mind clear, and throw my game,” he said. “We won, and that’s what matters.”
Have you subscribed to the Bleed Los Podcast YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows & promotions, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
