Proving to be a viable member of a playoff rotation just two outings into his comeback, Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto will look to get it together before embarking on his first MLB October.
Yamamoto (6-2, 2.63 ERA) will oppose Colorado Rockies right-hander Antonio Senzatela (0-0, 6.00) in the finale of a three-game series on Sunday afternoon at Los Angeles.
Yet, the outing is more than a mere tune-up. The Dodgers’ lead over the San Diego Padres dropped to three games after Los Angeles fell to the Rockies 6-3 on Saturday. The Dodgers (92-63) and Padres (89-66) will butt heads for three games starting Tuesday at Los Angeles.
“My focus right now certainly is winning (Sunday) and winning a series, which we need to do,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “We’ll have our chance at (the Padres.”
In two short starts since returning from a three-month absence because of a rotator cuff injury, Yamamoto has yielded one unearned run on seven hits in eight innings. He especially was sharp when he recorded eight of his 12 outs by strikeout against the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 10.
On Monday against the Atlanta Braves, Yamamoto had two walks and three strikeouts while throwing 72 pitches in the Dodgers’ 9-0 victory. He could be ready for six innings and 90 pitches Sunday.
“So the last few outings there were both sides, both good and bad,” Yamamoto said through an interpreter. “But I still have time to improve. I think I am going to have two more outings, so I will use those for good preparation.”
Said Roberts: “Not surprised … given where we’re at on the calendar and how important these starts are for him.”
In his lone outing against the Rockies on June 1, Yamamoto recorded his most recent victory when he gave up one run on seven hits over six innings.
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani stole his 53rd base Saturday but failed to drive in a run for just the second time in seven games.
The Rockies will have their own pitcher on the mend from injury as Senzatela makes his second start since coming back from Tommy John surgery. In his return Monday, he gave up two runs on four hits and three innings (67 pitches) in a no-decision against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Rockies won 3-2.
“I liked his stuff; the fastball was firm,” Rockies manager Bud Black said of Senzatela, who gave up a home run to Ketel Marte. “He’ll make two more starts, have a normal offseason, and come into spring training in a really good frame of mind both physically and mentally.”
Senzatela is 4-5 with a 5.98 ERA in 15 career appearances (13 starts) versus the Dodgers.
The Rockies (60-95) turned a go-ahead home run from Ryan McMahon in the fifth inning into Saturday’s win, their third in nine games against Los Angeles this season. McMahon, a native of nearby Orange County, reached 20 home runs for the fifth consecutive full season, not counting the shortened 2020 campaign.
Charlie Blackmon has home runs in each game of the series and 11 for the season.
The Dodgers loaded the bases in the ninth inning to bring the game-winning run to the plate in Max Muncy, but Rockies rookie right-hander Seth Halvorsen escaped the jam with a strikeout for his first career save. Four Colorado relievers held Los Angeles scoreless over the final 4 1/3 innings.
