TORONTO — Been there, done that.

In his final year pitching for the Orix Buffaloes, Yoshinobu Yamamoto took the mound for Game 6 of the 2023 Japan Series with the Buffaloes facing elimination. Yamamoto struck out a Japan Series record 14 batters and threw 138 pitches in a complete-game victory, forcing a Game 7.

It is the same scenario the Dodgers and Yamamoto face against the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 6 of the World Series on Friday night in Toronto.

“Right guy at the right time,” outfielder Kiké Hernandez said of Yamamoto taking the ball with the Dodgers facing elimination for the first time since Game 5 of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres last fall – a game Yamamoto also started and won, pitching the first five innings of a shutout.

Hernandez’s faith

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