GIVEN the Los Angeles Dodgers’ starting pitching dominance in the postseason, manager Dave Roberts could pick anybody in the rotation and feel good about his team’s chances.
But after the way left-hander Blake Snell and righty Yoshinobu Yamamoto performed in the first two games of the NLCS, why change anything for the World Series?
Roberts confirmed this line of thinking on Tuesday as he tabbed Snell and Yamamoto to start on Friday and Saturday in Toronto against the Blue Jays. Both will be working on 10 days’ rest.
Snell, who inked a five-year, $182-million deal with the Dodgers in the offseason, threw 21 innings versus National League competition in the playoffs and allowed just two runs (0.86 ERA) and six hits. He blanked strong-hitting teams in Philadelphia and Milwaukee — highlighted by allowing just one hit over eight innings with 10 strikeouts and no walks in Game 1 of the NLCS against the Brewers.
Yamamoto threw a complete game the next night in Game 2 against Milwaukee, allowing 1 run on 3 hits.
Both of those efforts came on the road, the same challenge the duo will face against the hot-hitting Blue Jays.
Roberts has other outstanding options for Games 3 and 4 in Los Angeles as power right-handers Tyler Glasnow (0.68 playoff ERA) and Shohei Ohtani are lined up for those games. — Reuters
