GLENDALE, Ariz. — Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered an outstanding performance from the mound, striking out seven batters over the span of five innings as the Los Angeles Dodgers played their next-to-last game of the spring season against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday. Yamamoto’s display included an array of pitches, with his fastball reaching speeds of up to 97 mph. His splitter was particularly effective, accounting for four of the strikeouts. In this final spring training show, the talented Japanese pitcher allowed just one run across four hits and issued only one walk during his 75-pitch outing.
Looking ahead, Yamamoto is all set to take the mound as the starting pitcher for the Dodgers’ regular-season opener against the Chicago Cubs. This highly anticipated game is scheduled to take place in Tokyo on March 18, with Shohei Ohtani expected to take on the role of designated hitter.
Ohtani demonstrated his power at the plate with a remarkable 118.5 mph double achieved in the first inning of the game. Despite grounding out in the second inning and striking out in the fourth, Ohtani showcased his potential for the upcoming season. With a spring batting record of 6 hits in 17 at-bats (.353), including two doubles and a home run, Ohtani is aiming to make a strong return following shoulder surgery during the offseason.
In their final spring training game, the Dodgers plan to start rookie right-hander Roki Sasaki. He is slated to open the second game against the Cubs in Tokyo on March 19. Sasaki’s performance will be closely watched as the Dodgers conclude their preparations for the regular season.
