Getting Yoshinobu Yamamoto to work in Game 6 of the World Series is of the utmost importance for the Blue Jays

In the 27-year-old’s past two starts, he has pitched 18 innings, giving up two earned runs, allowing four hits, walking one and striking out 15. No matter how good he is, he can be defeated. Take Game 3 of the National League Divisional Series, where the Philadelphia Phillies scored three runs off him in the top of the fourth inning en route to an 8-2 victory.

One of those complete nine-inning games came in Game 2 of the World Series against the Blue Jays. In the 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, Yamamoto finished with a line of 9 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BBresulting in the last 19 batters he faced being retired in order. After the third inning, not a single Blue Jay even reached base.

In the first inning, Yamamoto threw 23 pitches, then 33 through three innings and 46 through three innings. That accounted for nearly half of the 105 pitches he threw in the game, and he got stronger as he faced the Jays’ command for the third time.

When the Jays are successful, they work on the count, make pitching mistakes and get to the starter early, something they did before the fourth inning and beyond. That’s easier said than done, of course, given the quality of Yamamoto’s pitches, but it’s something they’ll have to do in Game 6.

Getting to the Dodgers’ bullpen, which has struggled so far in the World Series, is the key to winning the World Series in six games. Going to seven games with the Dodgers means danger, even if they have found success against their other three starters and bullpen. Because after all, anything can happen in a baseball game.