<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0MwL1N_0w35tW1U00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0MwL1N_0w35tW1U00" width="912" height="513" ><figcaption>Oct 5, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) throws a pitch in the first inning against the San Diego Padres during game one of the NLDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Dodger Stadium. | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images </figcaption></figure> The heated NLDS showdown between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres is finally coming to a head in Game 5 on Friday, and the two sides will combine to make history, no matter the end result. The Dodgers have announced that rookie right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto will serve as their starting pitcher. The Padres, meanwhile, have pegged veteran righty Yu Darvish as their starter. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> According to <a href="https://x.com/OptaSTATS/status/1844604671329005641" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> OptaSTATS </a> , this will mark the first matchup of Japanese-born starting pitchers in MLB postseason history. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Yu Darvish vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto will be the first matchup of Japanese-born starting pitchers in MLB postseason history. <a href="https://t.co/RrjTZuxX6g" rel="nofollow"> pic.twitter.com/RrjTZuxX6g </a> — OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaSTATS/status/1844604671329005641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow"> October 11, 2024 </a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> Yamamoto joined the Dodgers on a record-breaking 12-year, $325 million contract last winter, making him the highest-paid pitcher in league history. The 26-year-old largely lived up to that price tag this season –&nbsp;when he wasn't out due to injury –&nbsp;going 7-2 with a 3.00 ERA, 1.111 WHIP, 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings and a 1.7 WAR across 18 starts. As pointed out by <a href="https://x.com/SlangsOnSports/status/1844603729334403512" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> MLB.com's Sarah Langs </a> , Yamamoto will become the fifth rookie pitcher in Dodgers history to start a winner-takes-all postseason game. Dustin May did so in Game 7 of the 2020 NLCS, while Walker Buehler did it in Game 7 of the 2018 NLCS. Before them, the Dodgers put their faith in Fernando Valenzuela for Game 5 of the 1981 NLCS and Joe Black in Game 7 of the 1952 World Series, back when the team was still in Brooklyn. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Yoshinobu Yamamoto will be the 5th rookie pitcher to start a winner-take-all postseason game for the Dodgers, joining: 2020 NLCS G7 Dustin May 2018 NLCS G7 Walker Buehler 1981 NLCS G5 Fernando Valenzuela 1952 WS G7 Joe Black <a href="https://t.co/1WDdnzlolt" rel="nofollow"> https://t.co/1WDdnzlolt </a> — Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/SlangsOnSports/status/1844603729334403512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow"> October 11, 2024 </a></blockquote><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> Yamamoto made his playoff debut in Game 1 of the NLDS last weekend, giving up five earned runs to the Padres in just 3.0 innings of work. Yamamoto's only other outing against San Diego this year came in his MLB debut during the Seoul Series back on March 21, when he got rocked for five earned runs in 1.0 inning. Darvish, on the other hand, is no stranger to big moments. Over the course of his 12-year major league career, Darvish has made 12 starts in the postseason. He owns a 3.88 ERA and 1.062 WHIP in the playoffs, although his teams are 5-7 when he takes the mound. The 38-year-old started Game 2 of the NLDS last Sunday, tossing 7.0 innings and allowing just one earned run. The battle between Yamamoto and Darvish will determine who gets to face the New York Mets in the NLCS. First pitch is scheduled for 8:08 p.m. ET on Friday. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><h2> Follow Fastball On SI on social media </h2> Continue to follow our Fastball On SI coverage on social media by liking us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FastballOnFanNation" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Facebook </a> and by following us on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/FastballFN" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> @FastballFN </a> . You can also follow Sam Connon on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/SamConnon" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> @SamConnon </a> . This article was originally published on www.si.com/fannation/mlb/fastball as <a href="https://www.si.com/fannation/mlb/fastball/history/los-angeles-dodgers-rookie-yoshinobu-yamamoto-san-diego-padres-veteran-yu-darvish-set-to-make-history-in-nlds-game-5-first-matchup-of-japanese-born-pitchers-mlb-postseason-01j9xrbc1qnr?utm_source=RSS" rel="nofollow"> Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Padres' Yu Darvish Set to Make History in NLDS Game 5 </a> . </div></body>

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Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Padres' Yu Darvish Set to Make History in NLDS Game 5

The showdown between Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto and San Diego Padres veteran Yu Darvish in Game 5 of the NLDS on Friday will mark the first matchup between Japanese-born pitchers in MLB postseason history.

Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Padres' Yu Darvish Set to Make History in NLDS Game 5

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