Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — As Dodgers fans, we all know the pressure that comes with a Game 5 elimination game. But this Friday, it’s not just any game—it’s a piece of baseball history in the making. When Yoshinobu Yamamoto takes the mound at Dodger Stadium to face the Padres, he’ll be matched up against Yu Darvish in the first-ever MLB postseason duel between two Japanese-born starting pitchers. And what a moment it’s shaping up to be!
Yamamoto, the Dodgers’ prized offseason acquisition, will be put to the ultimate test. The team signed him to a massive 12-year, $325 million contract this winter—the largest for any pitcher in MLB history—with nights like this in mind. This is the type of high-stakes situation that they hoped for when they made that investment.
This isn’t just any rookie debut in the postseason either. Yamamoto joins an exclusive club of Dodgers pitchers who have been trusted to start a winner-take-all game in their rookie seasons—names like Walker Buehler, Dustin May, Fernando Valenzuela, and Joe Black.
But here’s where things get interesting. Yamamoto has had some trouble against the Padres this year. His major league debut, held in Seoul, South Korea, saw San Diego rough him up for five runs in just one inning. His follow-up start wasn’t much better—he allowed three runs over five innings. And his Game 1 performance of this NLDS was another tough outing, where the Padres got to him for five runs in just three innings.
Needless to say, it’s been a rollercoaster ride against San Diego for the Dodgers’ budding ace. His 13.00 ERA against the Padres is easily his highest against any team. Yet, despite these struggles, the Dodgers have placed their trust in Yamamoto. Manager Dave Roberts believes in him, and after his shaky Game 1 start, the team suspects Yamamoto might have been tipping his pitches. Over the past few days, he’s been making adjustments to “clean stuff up,” as Roberts put it.
Roberts has faith in Yamamoto’s ability to command the game when he’s on. As the skipper said, “When he’s convicted and attacking hitters with his pitch mix, he’s as good as anyone.” The hope is that Yamamoto will come out sharp, with his best stuff, and give the Dodgers the edge they need to win this decisive game.
On the other side, Yu Darvish is no stranger to the big stage. He knows the significance of this matchup, not just as a player but for what it represents in baseball history. Speaking through an interpreter, Darvish shared how proud he is to see the rise of Japanese players in the MLB. “It gives me a lot of joy,” Darvish said, reflecting on the talent that has come over from Japan. “The level of baseball in Japan has risen, and it’s showing over here.”
For Dodgers fans, this is about more than just winning a game. It’s a chance to witness history in a winner-take-all battle between two of the best from Japan. Both pitchers know the weight of this moment. And while the pressure is on, Yamamoto has shown he can rise to the occasion, despite his past struggles with San Diego.
The 38-year-old Darvish is the crafty veteran, he of the crazy pitch mix and the twelve years of MLB experience. This will be his 13th postseason start of his career. Most memorably for folks around here, he was on the mound in that awful final game of 2017 when the Trashcans won their tainted trophy. When asked about it in the press conference on Thursday, he shrugged it off as “not something he thinks aobut” very much.
Yamamoto on the other hand is the highly touted Japanese import, the guy who won every major award that the sport had to offer in Japan before hopping across the Pacific to join the Dodgers. In seven seasons in Japan, he was 72-29 with a ridiculous 1.82 ERA. Yamamoto is a three-time MVP of the Pacific League, three-time Sawamura award recipient (Japan’s Cy Young), and a three-time Triple Crown winner. And while his first season in MLB hasn’t been quite as dominant as all that, he’s been solid when he’s been healthy enough to be on the mound.
Interestingly enough, both pitchers found their seasons interrupted in 2024. The Dodgers had to do without the services of Yamamoto for nearly three months due to what was termed “triceps soreness” at the time. Darvish, on the other hand, had some stuff going on in his personal life, and had to step away from the game for three months as well, not pitching at all in June, July, and August. When both came back, they delivered similar results though. Darvish returned on September 4, and compiled a 3.55 ERA for the month of September. Then, he was fantastic in his NLDS start, surrendering one run in seven innings. Yamamoto returned to the Dodgers a week after Darvish came back to the Padres, and had only four starts in September, each rather short. He gave up six earned runs in those appearances, posting a 1-0 record and 3.38 ERA. And, perhaps the less said about his NLDS debut, the better.
Dodger Stadium will be electric, and the fans will be behind Yamamoto all the way. This is why we watch postseason baseball—to witness the drama, the tension, and those unforgettable moments that will be talked about for years to come.
Now it’s Yamamoto’s turn to make his mark in Dodgers history. Let’s hope he brings his A-game because we all know what’s at stake—advancing to the next round and a chance at the World Series. No pressure, right?
Let’s go, Dodgers!
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