Blake Snell is getting the ball for Game 2 of the NLDS on Sunday, pushing Yoshinobu Yamamoto to Game 3 on Tuesday in Atlanta. This move comes right after Tarik Skubal was named the Game 1 starter on Friday, setting the Dodgers’ rotation for their opening series.
Skubal’s Surprise, Snell’s Spot, and Rotation Depth
Tarik Skubal, the Game 1 starter, found out about his role a week ago after tossing seven scoreless innings on just 75 pitches against the Giants on September 25. He thought he was going to finish that game, but then manager Dave Roberts told him, “get ready for Game 1.” You can imagine the excitement! Skubal later commented on the team’s pitching talent, saying, “We have such talented starters. I think you can roll out any of us in any situation and you’re going to be in a really good spot.” He doesn’t make those decisions, he just gets ready when they tell him to go.
The Dodgers definitely have options when it comes to pitchers who can go on short rest. Skubal is the most likely to pitch on four days rest if needed, and both Snell and Tyler Glasnow have a history of doing it too. Yamamoto, though, has never started in the majors on fewer than five days rest, with the only exception being an eight-out relief appearance to close out Game 7 of the 2025 World Series. He’s been the rock of that Dodgers rotation, the only starter healthy all season in both 2025 and 2026.
The Method Behind the Madness: Why Yamamoto Waits
So, why push the rotation’s rock to Game 3? There’s definitely a method to this madness. Turns out, the Braves as a team struggled big time against left-handed pitchers this season. They hit just .240/.300/.396, and their 91 wRC+ against southpaws ranked them 24th out of 30 MLB teams. And it didn’t get better for them either, with their final two months showing a .238/.287/.383 slash line and an 84 wRC+ against lefties. Now, they’re set to face two left-handers to kick off the NLDS: Skubal in Game 1 and Snell in Game 2. That’s a brutal start for a team that can’t hit southpaws.
Roberts confirmed that the matchups were a big part of the decision, but not the only one. He also mentioned “the possibility of usage” and “who’s best lined up” for the future. As Roberts put it, “I think it’s a good process, appreciating that the most important thing is this series right now. But if you have talented arms at your disposal, it’s prudent to kind of map out potentially how they could line up.” This means if the Dodgers do advance past the Braves, Yamamoto would be the ideal Game 2 starter in a seven-game series, allowing him to pitch on five days rest.
The stage is set. Skubal kicks it off, Snell follows, and then Yamamoto rolls in for Game 3. It’s a strategic play designed to exploit weaknesses and set them up for whatever comes next. This series against the Braves is far from a given, but you gotta respect the planning!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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