On Saturday, October 3, 2026, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves. Yamamoto, who had a stellar regular season with a 2.53 ERA and 182 strikeouts, was passed over for the first two games in favor of left-handed pitchers Tarik Skubal and Blake Snell. The decision was influenced by the Braves' struggles against left-handed pitching and Yamamoto's excellent career numbers at Truist Park. The Game 3 matchup will feature Yamamoto against Chris Sale, marking a historic pitching duel.
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