Cody Snavely
The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to play their first spring training game in the Cactus League this Thursday against the Padres, but Dave Roberts has his eyes set on Opening Day in Korea.
Dave Roberts, interviewed by the media during the Dodgers off-day in Arizona today, stated it was a “safe bet” that newly acquired arms Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto would start in the two-game series in Korea.
Opening Day starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto?
After a disappointing end in the NLDS, the Dodgers’ main goal this offseason was to revamp their starting rotation.
Andrew Friedman and the Dodgers front office did that and more by signing the top free-agent pitcher on the market in Yamamoto and trading for the top arm in the market in Glasnow
However, each starter has their question marks as we get ready to kick off the game this week.
The biggest hurdle for Yamamoto is the uncertainty of his talent transitioning from Japan to the MLB.
Yamamoto dominated the NPB last season, going 16-6 with a 1.21 ERA and 169 SO in 164 IP.
In his professional career in Japan, Yamamoto posted a gaudy 1.82 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in just under 1,000 innings pitched.
He has already made five All-Star teams, tossed four no-hitters, won three Japanese Triple Crowns, two Sawamura Awards (NPB’s Cy Young), and two MVPs.
However, this is not the first time Yamamoto’s name has been mentioned for the Korea series, as a few weeks ago, Roberts alluded to the possibility that the right-handed pitcher would make his Dodgers debut in one of those two games.
Tyler Glasnow, the newest Dodgers ace?
Tyler Glasnow also has an uphill battle as the flamethrowing right-hand pitcher has struggled with injuries throughout his career.
The 2023 season was the healthiest of Glasnow’s career, and he only managed to pitch 120 total innings.
The Dodgers, however, saw Glasnow’s potential and rewarded him with a massive 5-year, $136.5 million extension after the trade.
However, the stats back up the Dodger’s offer, as Glasnow has always posted electric stuff with a plus fastball, superb extension, and wicked break on his offspeed pitches.
Rotation after the two-game series?
When the Dodgers kick open the season in Korea for two games against the Padres, they will return to the US and play three exhibition games against the Angels.
The Dodgers will then open up the regular season against the Cardinals at Dodgers stadium on March 29th.
It makes sense that the combination of Yamamoto and Glasnow will take the ball in games one and two, but after that, it depends on how the players perform in spring games.
With Kershaw sidelined on the 60-day IL and Walker Buehler starting the season on a delayed start, expect the Dodgers to open with something like this
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto
- Tyler Glasnow
- Bobby Miller
- James Paxton
- Emmet Sheehan
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