Dodgers SP may do something that hasn't happened in 81 years

With both Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler recovering from injuries and Shohei Ohtani limited to hitting duties in 2024, it makes sense that Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow are slated to open the Dodgers' season next month in South Korea. 

Other candidates for the series against the San Diego Padres could include youngster Bobby Miller and veteran southpaw James Paxton.

Al Gerheauser played five seasons from 1943-1948, debuting with the Philadelphia Phillies and later suiting up for the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Browns. He finished his career with a 25-50 record, 4.13 ERA and 1.47 WHIP.

Jim Bagby Jr. pitched for 10 years from 1938-1947, taking the mound for the Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians and Pirates. He earned back-to-back All-Star honors in 1942 and 1943 with Cleveland and ended his career at 97-96 with a 3.96 ERA and 1.45 WHIP.

If Yamamoto can come anywhere close to what Lefty Grove did across his 17 seasons, Dodgers fans will be more than happy.

Grove was one of the best pitchers of the first half of the 20th century, winning one MVP award and two World Series titles. He was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1947. He was a six-time All-Star and won the pitching Triple Crown (league leader in wins, ERA and strikeouts) twice as well.

Yamamoto signed a 12-year, $325M contract with Los Angeles in late December. The righty was a five-time Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) League All-Star, three-time Pacific League MVP and three-time Triple Crown winner.

Yamamoto also helped Japan win gold at the Tokyo Summer Olympics in 2021 and at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.