Yoshinobu Yamamoto will take the mound for the Dodgers in Game 2 of the World Series in Toronto.
The Japanese pitcher is coming off a complete game three-hitter against the Brewers in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series, but he will have a much tougher task on Saturday night.
The Blue Jays were one of the best hitting teams in baseball this season, with a .760 on-base plus slugging, which ranked third in the league.
Specifically, Toronto was better than everyone at scoring hits and putting the ball in play; their batting average of .265 and their strikeout rate of 17.8 percent were both the best of any team.
That will continue in the postseason against stiff competition.
Heading into Game 1 of the World Series, the Blue Jays have hit .296 while striking out just 14.8 percent of the time.
In half of their postseason games prior to Friday’s action, the Blue Jays scored double-digit goals.
That stretch came 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 came against some of the best pitching staffs in baseball, including starters like Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert and Luis Castillo.
Yamamoto is coming into this match well, but he has largely benefited from 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 faced during this postseason run – giving up three runs on six hits in four innings pitched.
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With the sportsbooks expecting another good start from Yamamoto, it’s time to watch.
Bet the right-hander will have a little more trouble than he had late Saturday.
The play: Yoshinobu Yamamoto gives up more than 5.5 hits (+121, DraftKings)
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Dylan Svoboda is a versatile writer and analyst in many sports. He especially has a lot of knowledge of the big three: MLB, the NFL and the NBA.
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