LOS ANGELES -- The last two times Yoshinobu Yamamoto has faced the Brewers, he has been a force to be reckoned with on the mound. On Friday, the Dodgers' right-hander will get the chance to keep his run of dominance going against the Crew.
Yamamoto will take the ball for the second game of the four-game set at Dodger Stadium, a series featuring two of the Majors' best teams that could have postseason implications. Both L.A. and Milwaukee are vying for a first-round bye, and the season series is one of the tiebreakers to determine seeding, if necessary.
The Dodgers and Brewers met in last year's NL Championship Series, when L.A. pulled off a four-game sweep. Yamamoto authored an iconic performance that series, going the distance for the first time as a Major Leaguer in Game 2 at American Family Field.
The next time Yamamoto faced the Brewers, on May 24 in Milwaukee, he tossed seven innings of one-run ball to help the Dodgers take two of three that series.
Yamamoto has been on a roll entering Friday. The Dodgers have won three of his previous four starts, in which he's posted a 1.88 ERA (six earned runs in 28 2/3 innings). Going back further, Yamamoto has a 2.12 ERA in 13 starts dating back to May 18, which ranks third among Major Leaguers who have pitched at least 50 innings in that span.
Even in a loaded rotation that also includes Tarik Skubal and Blake Snell, Yamamoto is considered to be the ace of the group. This series is about as meaningful as a regular-season series in August can be, and the Dodgers are depending on Yamamoto to set the right tone when he takes the mound.