LA Times · Oct 15, 2025
The Dodgers’ latest starting-pitching flex? Make the bullpen a non-factor
Dodgers catcher Will Smith congratulates Yoshinobu Yamamoto on his complete game victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 2 of the NLCS at American Family Field.Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw a complete game, allowing one run, as the Dodgers beat the Brewers 5-1 to take a 2-0 NLCS lead.
The performance negated concerns about the Dodgers’ shaky bullpen and closer Roki Sasaki, who did not pitch after struggling in Game 1.
The Dodgers are two wins from the World Series; historically, 85% of teams with 2-0 leads in best-of-seven series advance.
MILWAUKEE — Technically, Roki Sasaki was available to pitch in relief for the Dodgers on Tuesday night.
Realistically, he wasn’t.