Dodgers pitchers over the last seven games have built a picket fence. Beginning with Game 4 of the National League Division, Los Angeles arms have allowed these runs: 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 11, 1.
Within the constellation of Dodgers starters, Yamamoto hovers beneath the radar. He does not possess the stateside resume of teammate Blake Snell. He does not live beneath the glow of worldwide fame like Shohei Ohtani. He lacks the otherworldly physicality of the 6-foot-8 Tyler Glasnow. But he may be the best pitcher of the bunch, as he demonstrated at Rogers Centre on Saturday, disarming the Blue Jays and drawing the World Series even as one victory apiece.
From Jeff Passan at ESPN: “When the Dodgers gave Yamamoto a 13-year, $325 million contract, they believed he would be one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball. Through two seasons, with a [2.47] postseason ERA in eight playoff starts, he already has proven he is.”
There are still several steps to make it happen, but there is some optimism on MLB players playing in the Summer Olympics in 2028 in Los Angeles. Commissioner Rob Manfred spoke before Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday and said this about the Olympics, per Bill Shaikin at the Los Angeles Times: “I am positive about it. … I think the owners have crossed the line in terms of, we’d like to do it if we can possibly make it work, but there are logistical issues that still need to be worked through.”
Joe Carter threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to Game 2 of the World Series, and the two-time champion from 1992-93 with the Blue Jays talked Saturday about the difficulties of winning it all in consecutive years. Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register has more.