TORONTO - It’s just his second season in the major leagues, yet Yoshinobu Yamamoto has already crafted a significant position within the Los Angeles Dodgers’ universe.
He is their safe space, a guy who can be relied upon to extract them from delicate situations, whether it’s extending their season by winning the decisive Game 5 of the 2024 National League Division Series, or prevailing in five of the six playoff games he’s started.
In World Series Game 2, he won’t be asked to save their chances at a repeat World Series title. But the Dodgers also know it’s a difficult ask to climb out of a 2-0 hole against the suffocating Toronto Blue Jays.
That’s his task as the Fall Classic wraps up the first leg at Rogers Centre, opposed by veteran right-hanger Kevin Gausman.
The Blue Jays pounded 14 hits in Game 1, prevailing 11-4. They will be motivated to seize command, given that their bullpen may be extended given the complexion of their rotation and games on three consecutive days when the Series shifts to Los Angeles.
