Andrew Friedman Explains Why Dodgers Changed Starting Pitchers For NLDS
The Dodgers revealed Jack Flaherty and Yoshinobu Yamamoto would be the starting pitchers for Game 1 and 2 of the National League Divison Series, respectively. However, the Dodgers chose to swap the two pitchers on Thursday. Now, Yamamoto will open the Dodgers postseason with Flaherty starting in Game 2.
The decision came shortly after the Padres solidified their spot in the NLDS. San Diego nearly snatched the NL West title from the Dodgers in their latest series. Although the Dodgers kept the crown, questions surround the reasoning behind the Dodgers’ sudden pitching change for the postseason.
Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers President of Baseball Operations, told the Orange County Register’s Bill Plunkett the change is intended to preserve the pitchers throughout a potentially five-game series.
“It just creates options,” Friedman said to Plunkett. “If there is a Game 5, depending on the usage of our ’pen, we can have those guys take down the game, we can have just one of them with our ’pen. It just creates flexibility for things that we can’t possibly know right now, which is, how is our pitching used in Games 1 through 4? And just having as many options as we can.”
Yamamoto has not made a start without at least five days rest, mirroring his pitching schedule when he played in Japan. Yamamoto starting in Game 2 would limit his rest for later games in the series. The right-hander will get the opportunity to make his postseason debut against the same team he made his MLB debut against on March 21.
While the Dodgers have lost to the Padres both times Yamamoto has started, Flaherty has found more success. Flaherty’s most recent start was against San Diego on Sept. 25. The Dodgers won 4-3, redeeming themselves from a loss the day before that ended in a triple-play.
With the limited pitching options and a handful of injuries to starting pitchers this season, the Dodgers’ decision may serve them well this postseason.
Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
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