Two Japanese-born pitchers will start in a Major League Baseball postseason game for the first time on Friday.
The Los Angeles Dodgers announced the day before that Yamamoto Yoshinobu will start in Game 5 of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres.
The Padres have named Darvish Yu as their starter for the winner-takes-all game.
The Dodgers won Game 1, despite Yamamoto allowing five runs in three innings.
Manager Dave Roberts said on Thursday that Yamamoto has “cleaned stuff up” and that he is comfortable with the pitcher’s condition.
Darvish started for the Padres in Game 2, allowing only one run in seven innings.
Asked about Friday’s playoff game, he said it is great that he and Yamamoto will start.
The winner advances to the National League Championship Series.