The Los Angeles Dodgers have defied expectations with their stellar starting rotation in the postseason.
In the first two games of the World Series against the New York Yankees, Jack Flaherty and Yoshinobu Yamamoto achieved a feat that hadn’t been done in five years.
Flaherty (5.1 innings in Game 1) and Yamamoto (6.1 innings in Game 2) provided the Dodgers with their first back-to-back starts of at least six innings since Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler did so in Games 1 and 2 of the 2019 National League Division Series.
Yamamoto, in his World Series debut, allowed just one hit, struck out four, and walked two. Despite giving up a solo home run, he retired 11 consecutive batters to help the Dodgers win 4-2.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto proved that he’s built for the big stage:
6.1 IP1 H1 ER2 BB4 K 12 whiffs29 CSW%86 P / 54 S
Yamamoto signed the most lucrative contract ever for a pitcher when he signed a 12-year, $325 million deal this offseason. You get what you pay for. pic.twitter.com/8hQGAA5h24
— Doug McKain (@DMAC_LA) October 27, 2024
Teoscar Hernández praised Yamamoto for his performance and emphasized the trust the team has in him. Yamamoto needed only 86 pitches, 54 of which were strikes.
Flaherty, on the other hand, had a solid outing in Game 1 with six strikeouts and two earned runs in a 6-3 victory.
Jack Flaherty’s former teammate knew he was destined for greatness early on.
Now, he’s cheering Flaherty on as he takes the mound for the Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series.
@DodgersNation https://t.co/BirEOPl57w
— Maren Angus-Coombs (@Maren_Angus) October 25, 2024
Flaherty reflected on his approach to the game, taking it one pitch at a time and embracing the incredible atmosphere of the World Series.
Heading into Game 5 with regular rest, Flaherty hopes to build on his performance in a crucial matchup at Yankee Stadium.
With a 2-0 series lead, the Dodgers will rely on Walker Buehler to start Game 3 and plan to use the bullpen for Game 4.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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