The Dodgers turn to Yamamoto in the NLDS win over Darvish

LOS ANGELES – Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the National League Division Series, facing right-hander Yu Darvish of the San Diego Padres, in a matchup that fellow Japanese star Shohei Ohtani has openly called for.

According to ESPN Research, Yamamoto will face Darvish in a winner-take-all game Friday night at Dodger Stadium to mark the first matchup of Japanese-born starting pitchers in MLB postseason history.

Yamamoto could have started against Darvish in Game 2 on Sunday, but the Dodgers used Yamamoto in the opener and went with Jack Flaherty instead. Both were available for Game 5, while Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also ruled out the possibility of a bullpen game and was still undecided about the team's plans during Thursday's practice.

Yamamoto, Roberts said, was “very comfortable” with the idea of ​​coming out of the bullpen, but the Dodgers ultimately decided to start him. Still, his leash will likely be short. Yamamoto was charged with five runs in three innings against the Padres in Game 1, and the Dodgers – who are coming off a Game 4 win in which eight relievers combined for a shutout – will likely turn to their bullpen at the first sign of trouble.

Darvish pitched seven innings of one-run ball from Dodger Stadium in Game 2 and held Ohtani to one hit in eight at-bats this season, striking him out three times. At the start of the NLDS, Ohtani called Darvish his “childhood hero” and said his “personal hope was that Darvish would have faced Yoshinobu.”

He will now fulfill his wish.

Asked Thursday what stood out about his hitting attempts against Darvish, Ohtani said through an interpreter: “Obviously he's a really good pitcher and pitched well against us.” I think he is also very skilled, so there is nothing. There isn't exactly one thing in particular that really stands out. But personally I’m really excited that he might be competing against Yoshinobu.”