NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: METS VS DODGERS

October 16, 2024

Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Citi Field

Los Angeles Dodgers

Pregame 3 Press Conference

Q. Your first outing to your second outing in the playoffs, it seems like you've gotten so much more comfortable out there. What kind of advice could you give to the pitching staff, especially Walker Buehler in his second outing in the playoffs, from what you've learned so far?

YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO: Actually, I'm the one getting advice from them. I don't really have advice to give away.

Q. What advice did Walker give you or some other guys?

YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO: Before the last outing, he gave me some advice. No details.

Q. What do you think the biggest difference was from Game 1 to Game 5 last series? And how much do you think the cleaning up the pitch tipping was part of that?

YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO: I think because in Game 5, I think my mechanics was much better than the first one, Game 1.

Q. What does getting the first batter out in the game meant for your confidence as well as getting out of the first inning clean?

YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO: I think, because earlier in the game, being able to settle into the game is very important for me because giving up the first run of the game might affect the whole game.

Q. What have you learned from the NLCS, just watching the Mets offense so far in the first two games?

YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO: I think, of course, they have I versatile lineup and they have momentum. So I'm going to get myself ready and do my best.

Q. When you arrived from Japan with all the success that you had in Japan and the size of the contract that you got -- you got a lot of attention -- but at the time you were joining a rotation that had a lot of established Major League pitchers already, All-Star pitchers. Because of injuries there's not that many guys left in this rotation that started the season. How much are you feeling more responsibility to perform because of those situations now and the injuries to your teammates? And how are you handling that here in your first postseason in the big leagues? As a healthy starting pitcher here in the Dodgers rotation, when so many of his teammates having gone down with injuries, there's not that many guys left from the projected rotation to start the season.

YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO: Because right now anything can happen in terms of injury or a mishap within the rotation, but I think everybody, every single pitcher of the Dodgers has been doing their best and doing their job.

And I was gone because of my own injury and all the teammates, pitching staff, they covered me while I was gone, in my absence. So now, because I'm back and I'd like to contribute with what I've got for the team.

Q. You met with the Mets in the offseason during your free agency. Did anything about them stand out? Just what do you remember most about meeting with them?

YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO: I did meet them a couple times and then because I had a good impression, which made it a little hard to make a decision. It's a wonderful organization.