Dodgers make notable strategy change ahead of NLDS against Padres

Oct 11, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) reacts during game one of the NLDS for the 2022 MLB Playoffs against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers defeated the Padres 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Dodgers are calling an audible ahead of the NLDS.

The Dodgers had announced on Wednesday that trade deadline acquisition Jack Flaherty would be drawing the start in Game 1 of the NLDS against the San Diego Padres on Saturday. Yoshinobu Yamamoto was then scheduled to get the ball for Game 2 on Sunday.

Your Game 1 and Game 2 starters for the NLDS.

: https://t.co/lOkjtIxmDe pic.twitter.com/sxWYSZs8ow

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 2, 2024

But on Thursday, Dodgers president Andrew Friedman revealed that the team would be flipping the order. Yamamoto will now be starting Game 1 while Flaherty will get the start in Game 2 instead.

Friedman said that the move is so that Yamamoto can be available for Game 5 on an extra day of rest, per Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times.

Game 5 (if necessary) will be played on Oct. 11, giving Yamamoto five full days of rest between starts, which has been his norm this season. But a lot will be riding on Yamamoto having a strong outing in Game 1, especially with the importance of getting off to a good start in a best-of-five series where you have home field advantage to protect.

After missing roughly two months with a rotator cuff injury, Yamamoto looked solid in his last few starts of the season, going 3-1 with a 3.38 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 16 innings pitched. The Dodgers will need him to be in form against the Padres, especially since their preferred ace is unavailable due to injury.