Yoshinobu Yamamoto will take the mound for the Dodgers in Game 2 of the World Series in Toronto.
The Japanese hurler is coming off a complete game three-hitter against the Brewers in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series, but he’s getting a much tougher task on Saturday night.
The Blue Jays were one of the best-hitting teams in baseball this season, posting a .760 on-base plus slugging, which was third in the league.
Heading into Game 1 of the World Series, the Blue Jays have hit .296 while striking out a measly 14.8 percent of the time.
In half of their postseason games heading into Friday’s action, the Blue Jays have had double-digit hits.
That stretch has come without one of their best hitters, Bo Bichette, who returned for the Fall Classic after missing a month and a half with a sprained posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
Their postseason success has come against some of the best pitching staffs in baseball, including starters like Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, and Luis Castillo.
Yamamoto comes into this game hot, but he’s largely taken advantage of average-to-below-average lineups in his big starts.
During the Division Series, Yamamoto struggled against the Phillies – by far the best hitting team he’s faced during this postseason run – giving up three runs on six hits over four innings pitched.
