It was not a smooth beginning. In the opening frame, Yoshinobu Yamamoto surrendered a hit, issued a walk, and allowed a run, and for a brief moment, it looked like another uphill night. But then, things changed. From that point on, Yamamoto was almost untouchable, and he carved through 20 straight Giants hitters with surgical precision. The Dodgers pitcher has been on an impressive streak.

For the third consecutive game, Yamamoto pitched at least seven innings, surrendered only one run, and struck out more than 10 batters. Over Yamamoto’s last two games alone, the star has pitched 15 and 2/3 innings in which he allowed just two runs and two hits and struck out 20 batters. Though Yamamoto has been good enough to win a Cy Young Award, his team lost again. And so, the frustration in the Dodgers grows.

The twist came in the 10th inning on Friday. When the game was tied at 1-1, Dave Roberts turned to $72M reliever Tanner Scott, who promptly surrendered a grand slam to Patrick Bailey. Such a swing sealed a 5-1 Giants win and left Yoshinobu Yamamoto with yet another wasted masterpiece. Tanner Scott, who has now blown nine saves this season, said afterward: “It’s terrible. I’m having the worst year of my life. I gotta be better.”

This instance made Pete Fox from Locked On Dodgers really upset. Fox strongly criticized Roberts for his decision-making, specifically, after Scott gave up a big hit. He remarked, “It said it was a 91 mph slider. It didn’t slide. That ball didn’t do anything. That was a flat batting practice fastball up in the zone, and Bailey was all over it.”

Fox did not stop when highlighting the Dodgers’ continued bullpen woes. “The Dodgers played well. Again, another wasted pitching performance from Yamamoto. The bullpen is still in tatters. It’s a coin flip or a crapshoot.” Fox even questioned Roberts’ decision to use Scott in the spot.

“I don’t know why you don’t go get Vesia if you’re going to run a lefty out there. Vesia or Banda, both of those guys are more effective than Tanner Scott. I don’t get it. I do not understand that move at all.”

Then, later, the “Locked On PLAYER OF THE GAME” was announced.

“It’s an easy one tonight with Yamamoto going seven, allowing just one hit and striking out 10. And honestly, the Dodgers probably win this game one to nothing if Andy Pages doesn’t make that error in the first inning.”

That is the heart of the issue. Yamamoto is providing everything to the Dodgers he was paid for; however, the bullpen keeps undoing his work. Roberts, too, after the game said that shifting Scott into lower-leverage places is “something I’ve got to certainly think about.” 

The issue is that October is not forgiving, and with the bullpen ranked 19th in ERA, every decision is vital. As Fox said, “it’s a coin flip or a crapshoot” and that is not the reality a championship contender can afford.

Yet, Yamamoto’s consistency only makes the team’s other pitching concerns stand out more.

Sasaki’s setbacks cast doubt on the Dodgers’ late-season plans

Roki Sasaki’s rehab journey has been anything but smooth. After missing four months with a shoulder impingement, the Japanese star was thought to use his Triple-A stint to establish rhythm and rejoin the Dodgers in September. Instead, Sasaki has posted a shaky 7.07 ERA across four starts and left his most recent outing with a calf issue. This highlighted the star’s issues over command, with as many walks as strikeouts (eight each), showing that Sasaki is not anywhere near his top form yet.

To clear the doubts, Roberts gave a careful update.

The skipper said Roki Sasaki will make his next start in OKC, the minor leagues. It says that the Dodgers are not going to rush Sasaki back just to help with the playoff race. Right now, the team only has a small 2.5-game lead over the Padres, so every game counts. If the Japanese star does not play better quickly, Roberts could have to change his plans for the playoffs and rely more on Yoshinobu Yamamoto. 

The Dodgers are dominating the NL West; however, Yamamoto’s wasted brilliance, Scott’s ongoing struggles, and Sasaki’s shaky rehab say that the team’s pitching depth is anything but secure. October will not forgive blown saves or uncertain rotations, and Roberts knows every choice will be magnified.