Yoshinobu Yamamoto Ready to Shine in World Series Game 2 Against Yankees

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the highly touted rookie pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, is set to make his World Series debut in Game 2 against the New York Yankees. Yamamoto, who signed a $325 million contract with the Dodgers, has been making waves with his impressive performances despite being a newcomer to the MLB stage.

In the postseason so far, Yamamoto has a 1-0 record with a 5.11 ERA in three appearances. During the regular season, he went 7-2 with a 3.00 ERA in 18 starts, striking out 105 and walking 22 in 90 innings. His arsenal includes six different pitches, with a fastball averaging 95.5 mph. However, his season was briefly interrupted by triceps tightness, which kept him sidelined from June 15 to September 10.

Yamamoto’s experience pitching in high-pressure games is not new; last fall, he pitched for Orix in the Japan Series against Hanshin, where he set a Japan Series record by striking out 14 in a complete game. This experience is expected to benefit him as he faces the Yankees in the World Series. Reflecting on his previous outing against the Yankees in June, where he threw seven shutout innings, Yamamoto noted, “The experience from June will benefit me a little bit, but this is the World Series…so I’m going to study and get myself ready”.

In Game 2, Yamamoto will face off against Yankees veteran pitcher Carlos Rodón. Rodón, who has a 1-1 record with a 4.40 ERA in the postseason, emphasized the importance of his role in keeping the Yankees competitive. The matchup promises to be intense, with both teams boasting powerful lineups. The Dodgers will rely on stars like Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, while the Yankees will look to heavy hitters such as Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

Yamamoto’s determination and humility were evident in his pre-game comments: “This is my first time, first World Series, so I’m going to do my very best to give as much contribution as possible to the team.” He also expressed his growing comfort and confidence with each postseason outing, saying, “Every time I pitch the last three games, I become more comfortable and I’m feeling better”.