Shohei Ohtani of Los Angeles Dodgers speaks to reporters during a press conference in preparation for Game 1 of a baseball NL Division Series against the San Diego Padres in Los Angeles, October 4, 2024.
12:34 JST, October 5, 2024
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto are friends who hark back to their days playing in the Japanese baseball league. Now they are making their playoff debut together in Major League Baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Last year they won a gold medal together for Japan during the World Baseball Classic. Their next goal? Win a World Series championship together.
The experience in Japan, the Japan Series and the World Baseball Classic and other major games will certainly help, Yamamoto said through an interpreter on Friday. “And I would like to take advantage of it.”
Yamamoto starts Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Saturday against Dylan Cease and the rival San Diego Padres. The Dodgers outlasted the Padres to win the NL West title for the eleventh time in twelve years during the closing days of the regular season, after San Diego took eight of the Dodgers’ twelve games.
I’m sure there’s more hype and excitement when you play against a division rival, Ohtani said through an interpreter.
Japan has left a big mark on this best-of-five series, with San Diego’s Yu Darvish playing his old team in Game 2 on Sunday. Darvish was Ohtani’s childhood hero.
My personal hope was that Darvish would take on Yoshinobu, Ohtani said. “Obviously that won’t happen this time, but I’m very honored and excited to be able to meet him.”
Yamamoto was originally scheduled to pitch Game 2, but the Dodgers switched him and Jack Flaherty in the order. Flaherty starts on Sunday.
Ohtani signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers last December from the Los Angeles Angels, where he spent six losing seasons. He was a major factor in luring Yamamoto to the Dodgers. The right-hander signed a $325 million, 12-year deal a few weeks after Ohtani switched teams.
JOE CAN’T GO
The Padres were already driven to reach this postseason as a way to honor beloved late owner Peter Seidler, whose initials adorn their jerseys.
He died last November at the age of 63.
Now they want to win for teammate Joe Musgrove. San Diego’s $100 million pitcher needs Tommy John surgery and is done for the season. The stunning news broke just 24 hours before Game 1 of the NLDS.
“I’m devastated that I can’t finish what we started,” an emotional Musgrove said.
The right-hander from El Cajon was acquired by his hometown Padres in 2021 and shortly thereafter threw the first no-hitter in franchise history.
He is a big part of our clubhouse and a leader, Cease said. “He will be with us in other ways. We’re going to catch up and we’re just going to keep moving forward.”
OHTANI ATTACKS
The Dodgers have a potent trio of hitters at the top of their lineup. Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts are all former MVPs.
As if trying to contain Ohtani — the first player in MLB history with 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season — isn’t enough of a challenge, Freeman and Betts are disciplined hitters who can swing for the fences or free can walk.
You want to leave Shohei out of the equation, but just like when you punch someone, who are you punching for? Will they be able to get him in? Padres manager Mike Shildt said.
Usually you put someone on because you like the matchups better and you have two MVP caliber guys right behind him. And Mookie is a pretty neutral guy, hits righties, hits lefties, so there’s no real handedness advantage there.
Ohtani is 4 for 15 with two home runs and four RBIs in 17 at-bats against Cease. Their games date back to when Cease was with the Chicago White Sox and Ohtani played for the Angels in the American League.
“I go in with a high level of focus and just attack,” Cease said. “If you pitch timidly and let guys walk or fall behind, you’re really just setting yourself up for failure.”
FREEMAN SINGLE
Freeman may be limited by a sprained right ankle he suffered last week, although manager Dave Roberts expects him to be in the lineup on Saturday.
The All-Star first baseman hit grounders and ran the bases Friday after working in the batting cage and playing in a simulated game the day before.
Freeman said he was told a sprained ankle is typically on the injured list for four to six weeks.
And I’m going to try to do this and play in a week, he said. “I’ve never sprained an ankle before, so that was the hardest part. And they say your first sprained ankle is the worst.”
