LA Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has selected Yoshinobu Yamamoto (26) as the first starter to decide the fate of his team's fall baseball. Yamamoto is scheduled to start Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres in the "2024 Major League Postseason" at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California on the 6th (Korea time). The Dodgers have announced Yamamoto and Jack Flaherty as starting pitchers in the first and second games at their home, respectively.스포츠토토

Yamamoto shook the FA market when he announced his entry into the U.S. Major League ahead of this season, and surprised the Dodgers by earning 325 million U.S. dollars, the highest in the history of Major League pitcher FA. The contract period was also 12 years, the longest in the history of pitcher FA.

The treatment was possible because he was a top ace who dominated the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) at an early age of 25. Yamamoto posted 70 wins and 29 losses, 897 innings, 922 strikeouts, and an ERA of 1.82 in 172 appearances in the NPB's total. Yamamoto enjoyed all the glory in Japan as he won the Sawamura Award for three consecutive years as a pitcher for three consecutive years until last year. The Japanese stage was narrow for Yamamoto, and he chose to challenge himself again in the Major League.

However, Yamamoto did not have a successful debut season. It was painful to be out for nearly three months due to shoulder injury. He played in 18 games this season, seven wins and two losses, 90 innings, 105 strikeouts, and an earned run average of 3.00. The score is shabby compared to the NPB days. After returning from injury, he pitched in four games in September, with one win, 16 innings and an earned run average of 3.38. The only game he played in five innings was against the Colorado Rockies on April 29.

On why he started Yamamoto as the first starter, Roberts said in a press conference on Tuesday, "He still throws seasoned pitches in big games. I am confident in his talent. It is his first playoff game in the Major League, but I think his heart rate will be okay."

"I've never heard that I'm going to start Game 1 when I'm training," Yamamoto said. "I'm going to focus on winning. And I want to be physically and mentally prepared and take the mound. Also, I have a lot of experience in big games, but it's my first time in the Major League Baseball playoffs. I think it's going to be a great experience because we have to do our best and contribute for our team."

I expected a lot of fans to cheer for the Dodgers. Yamamoto said, "The tremendous support from the fans makes me push myself a little more easily, and I can perform more than I have."

After returning from the injury, he believed he was getting better and better as he played four games. Yamamoto said with strength, "I felt I was getting better and better as I played four games. I'm not sure how many innings I can throw, but I'll try to throw as long as possible."