Yamamoto and Dodger batters go deep

08/05/2024 07:54

by Cary Osborne

It wasn't exactly clear to Yoshinobu Yamamoto after his performance on Tuesday what the big deal was.

He pitched 10 complete games over his final three seasons in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league and averaged at least seven innings per start in each of his final five seasons.

What's eight innings?

Yamamoto became the second Dodger this year to complete eight innings, joining Tyler Glasnow, and taught a masterclass in commanding the strikezone in the Dodgers' 8–2 win on Tuesday against the Marlins.

"But at the end of the day, that was great for me," he said of his eight innings. "I got the good result in the end."

There have been only 19 pitched games by a starter this year of at least eight innings. Only 1.7% of games started this season have seen a pitcher go that deep.

The Dodgers didn't have one eight-inning start all of 2023.

"I think that it's good for the starters to put themselves in a position to go deep in a game," said manager Dave Roberts. "And that comes with throwing strikes, being efficient, not having your stuff kind of taper back. Tyler's done it a handful of times. Yoshi's done it a few times. Gavin Stone's done it a few times. So that's been really helpful for all of us. And I think most importantly for them to feel that when it gets to the sixth inning, the seventh inning, that there's still some more gas in the tank that they can still be effective."

The Dodger bullpen has been decimated by injuries. Four of their highest leverage relievers from 2023, including closer Evan Phillips, are on the injured list.

In Yamamoto's case, he gave the Dodgers the opportunity to deploy any reliever left in Wednesday's series and homestand finale against the Marlins. The Dodgers can use any matchup advantage they have, especially with a day off on Thursday.

Yamamoto's previous Major League-high through his first seven starts was six innings — including his three starts leading into Tuesday.

His strike efficiency and effectiveness combined with an aggressive Marlins team helped him get quick outs and pitch without stress.

Yamamoto's first 19 pitches were strikes.

Marlins leadoff batter Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit the first pitch of the game for a home run. Yamamoto allowed a solo home run to designated hitter Bryan De La Cruz in the sixth inning.

Outside of that, he cruised.

"I feel like (catcher) Will (Smith) just sets up behind the plate and wherever he sets up, Yama throws it right there," said Dodger second baseman Gavin Lux. "And he works quick. He throws strikes. He's just very, very fun to watch pitch and play defense behind because you're always engaged. He's not going to walk people. He's been really impressive so far."

Lux hit a two-run home run in the second inning — his first homer since Aug. 15, 2022, after missing all of last season with a knee injury.

"I think you can kind of just breathe a little bit more," Lux said. "Anytime you get results, it's good, but just the process behind it and the day-to-day stuff that has gone into it, just to see some positive feedback — that helps a lot for sure."

It was one of two Dodger home runs in the game.

Max Muncy hit the Dodgers' first grand slam of the season in the first inning. It was his ninth homer of the season, fourth in the last three games and second opposite field homer of the season.

The Dodgers had just five hits, but the two big swings have Yamamoto more than he needed.

He now has a 1.76 ERA over his last seven starts.

Yamamoto and Dodger batters go deep was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.