The Los Angeles Dodgers hope to see the standard Yoshinobu Yamamoto re-emerge on Saturday once they proceed their highway sequence towards the St. Louis Cardinals.
Yamamoto (6-4, 2.39 ERA) took a 7-3 loss to the New York Yankees on Sunday, snapping his string of 11 begins of 5 or extra innings. He allowed 4 runs on seven hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings.
He’ll look to rebound within the center recreation of a three-game set. The Cardinals gained the opener 5-0 on Friday.
Dodgers catcher Will Smith stated of Yamamoto’s tough outing towards the Yankees, “Just a bit bit off. Execution wasn’t Yoshi-like. Not getting strike one, not placing guys away with two strikes. It occurs. And I count on him to come back into his subsequent begin dialed in like regular.”
Los Angeles supervisor Dave Roberts obtained Yamamoto out of that recreation so he may hit the reset button.
“Wasn’t sharp with any of his pitches. Actually uncharacteristic,” Roberts stated postgame. “Proper round that 90-pitch mark by 4 innings. There’s simply not a lot profit to persevering with to push him proper there. He definitely did not really feel good immediately. You have simply obtained to scrub this one.”
In his solely profession begin towards the Cardinals, Yamamoto tossed 5 scoreless innings on two hits in March 2024. He struck out 5 batters and walked none.
Yamamoto will confront a St. Louis lineup anchored by first baseman Willson Contreras, who socked a homer Friday night time to increase his hitting streak to seven video games. He’s 9-for-26 (.346) throughout that stretch with 4 doubles and eight RBIs.
“His need to win and the depth he brings, it is a good instance to set for the younger guys as a result of they see how exhausting he works, how a lot he cares and the way intense each at-bat is, whether or not we’re up by 10 or down by 10,” Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas stated. “He is by no means giving something away.”
The Cardinals moved Contreras from catcher to first base in 2025 to maintain him wholesome and within the on a regular basis lineup.
“The objective for this yr was to remain wholesome and play daily at first base,” stated Contreras, who performed in 59 of the crew’s first 63 video games. “However at first base, my physique additionally hurts and is sore as a result of it is not a simple place.
“It takes lots to be at first base daily. I am right here to play daily and assist this crew any method I can.”
The Cardinals will counter Yamamoto with Erick Fedde (3-5, 3.82 ERA), who held the Texas Rangers to 2 runs on 4 hits and three walks in six innings on Sunday. He fanned 5.
Fedde will catch the Dodgers coming off a irritating offensive recreation. Los Angeles went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring place on Friday.
“Man, it is a robust lineup that does a ton of harm, that does not swing and miss a ton,” Cardinals supervisor Oliver Marmol stated. “They’ve loads of versatility in how they will beat you …
“Only a good job between (catcher Pedro) Pages and our pitching employees immediately.”
In his profession, Fedde is 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA in three appearances (two begins) towards the Dodgers.
–Subject Degree Media