Dodgers Interview: Yoshi looks to save the Dodgers’ season in Game 6
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers head to Toronto down 3–2, and the ball goes to Yoshinobu Yamamoto. It’s the assignment he wanted. The right-hander kept his answers short on Wednesday night, but the message was clear: focus, routine, and trust in the work.
“I’m concentrating on one thing, and that’s to win,” Yamamoto said. “I’ll focus on the game in front of me and play the way I always play.”
He explained that his unusual warmup during the Game 3 marathon didn’t set him back. “I went to the bullpen today after playing catch to check how my arm felt,” he said. “If there was any tightness, I was going to skip it for tomorrow, but I threw well, so I completed my bullpen and I’m preparing without any issues.”
The Blue Jays’ lineup earned his respect, though he was careful not to give away specifics. “They’re a good team and that hasn’t changed,” he said. “The game plan comes later, but I’ll make the best possible preparation so I can face them at one hundred percent.”
Asked why he seems so comfortable in big moments after years of Japan Series and WBC starts, he smiled at the idea that there’s a secret switch. “I don’t know,” he said. “Honestly, I can’t explain it.” He followed with what he could explain. “There isn’t much difference in how I feel now,” he said, comparing this start to his last outing. “I prepare for the next game the same way. We have to win, so I’ll stay locked in.”
His complete-game gem earlier in the series is being talked about across baseball. Yamamoto appreciated the praise without letting it linger. “It gave me some confidence,” he said, “but I’ve already switched my mind. It’s a different game. I just want to contribute to a team win. Like I said, I’ll focus and play.”
The stakes bring nerves for everyone. He did not deny that. “Of course there’s tension,” he said. “I’ve worked hard to get to this point, so I want to take the mound with confidence.” That mindset connects to something Dave Roberts has pointed out often: Yamamoto’s desire to finish what he starts. The pitcher traced that quality to the people who shaped him. “Throughout my baseball life I met good coaches at the right time,” he said. “I learned a lot of important things at good moments. I think those experiences are helping me now.”
He was asked to explain where that strong desire came from. “I have played since elementary school,” he explained. “From then until now I’ve been fortunate. At every stage I had good coaching.”
There was also a practical check-in on scouting and adjustments after watching Toronto’s offense this week. Yamamoto kept it simple. “No change in the image of their team,” he said. “They’re strong. I’ll prepare at the highest level and go with my best.”
At this point in the season, it didn’t make sense to veer into any new routines, but he made a vow before leaving the interview room. “I’ll make the best preparation possible,” he said, “and I’ll face them with one hundred percent of myself.”
Even the question about loving center-stage moments brought him back to basics. “I don’t know why I like big games,” he said. “I just want to win and help the team.”
The final word felt like more like a judgment on the series than a personal goal. “There’s only one thing to do,” Yamamoto said. “Win.”
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