Yoshinobu Yamamoto smooth in his final spring start before Dodgers opening day
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- Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out seven and limited the Padres to three hits over five scoreless innings in his final spring tuneup.
- The ace will make his opening day start Thursday against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium.
- Hyeseong Kim and Alex Freeland are still vying to earn the starting job at second base for the Dodgers.
PHOENIX — Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto went into his final start of the spring with a focus on throwing first-pitch strikes, while also hoping to test his composure with men on base.
He achieved both Friday, limiting the traveling half of the Padres’ split squad to three hits in five scoreless innings. The next time Yamamoto takes the mound for a game, it’ll be on opening day at Dodger Stadium against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday.
“There were a few things I wanted to try,” Yamamoto said through an interpreter after his part of the Dodgers’ 4-3 win. “And [Friday] I was able to get into the game very nicely.”
The game featured a possible preview of the Dodger’s opening-day lineup — “I don’t know, we’ll see, it’s some good players,” manager Dave Roberts said with a smile.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman discusses the recently-completed World Baseball Classic, expectations for the upcoming season and how they built a team culture.
Few roster decisions remained, after camp cuts Wednesday included right-handers Kyle Hurt and River Ryan, and infielder Ryan Fitzgerald.
“They’re always difficult with guys hoping, expecting to break with us,” Roberts said of his conversations with cut players. “There’s obviously some good ones where you tell a guy that he’s going to make the club. But I think the main thing that just shouldn’t get lost is, it’s not always just about starting. It’s where you finish.”
As of Friday, Hyeseong Kim and Alex Freeland were still locked in a second-base battle. And the Dodgers had to sort out roles at the back end of the rotation.
Roberts said he expected to carry a swingman who would likely pitch multiple innings out of the bullpen early in the season, when the Dodgers’ schedule includes frequent off days, and later serve as a sixth starter.
Yamamoto, however, had been the clear choice to lead the rotation, long before Roberts made it official Monday.
“It’ll be nice to hand the ball to him and it’s not an elimination game,” Roberts said, referencing Yamamoto’s World Series MVP performance. “That’ll be fun for me.”
Shohei Ohtani pitched in his first spring training game Wednesday, pitching into the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants and allowing only one hit and striking out four.
Coming off pitching meaningful games in the World Baseball Classic, Yamamoto had one last chance Friday for a tuneup.
He struck out the first three batters he faced, with first-pitch strikes to each.
The next inning, Yamamoto gave up back-to-back one-out singles. He escaped the jam with two more strikeouts. Yamamoto tallied seven strikeouts in an overall smooth performance.
“He came out, really, with a purpose,” Roberts said. “And I thought everything looked good, the fastball — the life to it, the command of it — the cutter, slider, curve ball was good, the split, everything was good. And very efficient. And pretty effortlessly got through five innings, so that was really good to see.”
Sheehan has clarity
Right-hander Emmet Sheehan, competing for a rotation spot this spring, is leaving camp with clarity on his role.
“Right now, I’m a starter,” he said after allowing four runs in 4 ⅔ innings Saturday against the A’s.
Sheehan said he wasn’t completely sure when he’d slot in for the first turn through the rotation.
“I think we definitely made a lot of progress,” Sheehan said. “Velo was a little better [Saturday]. I think stuff was a little better. Obviously it’s an early game, pretty hot out there. But felt way better with where the delivery was.”
Sheehan, who entered Saturday with a 4.50 Cactus League ERA, had a rocky second inning. He allowed a total of three runs on a fielder’s choice, triple and wild pitch. But he limited damage the rest of his time on the mound.
“For us right now, he’s shown enough for us last year, and hasn’t had the best of springs, certainly, with the command,” Roberts said Friday. “I think he’s earned the opportunity to get out there and start and see how it looks as the season starts.”
Pick to click
Roberts named Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages his “pick to click” this season.
“He hit 27 homers last year, but I wouldn’t be surprised to [see him] make an all-star team this year,” Roberts said.
Roberts said it wasn’t a “chalk play” but raved about the growth he’s seen in Pages.
“He was a young player a few years ago that didn’t like the weight room, really didn’t work with intent,” Roberts said. “But now offensively, defensively, very consistent and on par with our superstar players. And on top of that, he’s learned to be a better hitter, a major-league hitter, and not just a slugger.”
