The San Francisco Giants, despite their injury woes, are gearing up to face one of their offseason targets, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, as they kick off a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night.
Yamamoto (4-1, 2.79 ERA) will make his first appearance against the Giants, facing off against Jordan Hicks (3-1, 2.30) on the mound. This series marks the first time these two teams have met since the Dodgers swept the Giants in the opening week of the season.
Before acquiring Blake Snell during training camp, the Giants were actively pursuing Yamamoto, a highly coveted talent known for his stellar performances in Japan. However, the Dodgers secured the right-hander with a massive 12-year, $325 million deal.
Despite a rocky start in his MLB debut against the San Diego Padres, Yamamoto has been impressive lately, boasting a 1.76 ERA and a 4-0 record in his last seven starts. He's won his last three outings, allowing only two runs over 20 innings.
As the Giants continue to deal with injuries, they're coming off a two-game winning streak, with Casey Schmitt's walk-off heroics securing a 6-5 victory against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.
The Giants are without key players like Michael Conforto, Nick Ahmed, Jorge Soler, and Austin Slater, along with pitchers Snell, Alex Cobb, and Robbie Ray. Additionally, leadoff man Jung Hoo Lee is set to undergo an MRI after injuring his left shoulder during Sunday's game.
On the other hand, the Dodgers are looking to bounce back after losing two of three games against the San Diego Padres. They were shut out in Sunday's game and are eager to return to their winning ways.
Star player Shohei Ohtani, who missed Sunday's game due to lower-back tightness, is expected to return for the series opener against the Giants.
Prediction: With Yamamoto's recent dominant performances, combined with the Giants' injury troubles, the Dodgers are favored to win this matchup. However, baseball is full of surprises, and the Giants have shown resilience in the face of adversity. It should be an exciting game to watch!
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