The Los Angeles Dodgers enter a do-or-die Game 6 of the World Series with Yoshinobu Yamamoto taking the mound and Shohei Ohtani desperate to awaken his slumping bat. Facing elimination against the Toronto Blue Jays, the Dodgers’ lineup must deliver under immense pressure at Rogers Centre.

Yamamoto’s pitching prowess could be the difference-maker, while Ohtani’s offensive struggles loom large in this must-win showdown. With Toronto’s dominant pitching and the Dodgers’ bullpen depleted, every at-bat carries season-defining consequences.

LA Dodgers Lineup Today: Yamamoto Starts Game 6 as Ohtani Seeks Breakout in Must-Win World Series Clash

Dodgers’ Pivot to Yamamoto: The Ultimate Gamble for Game 6 Survival

The Dodgers are staking their season on Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s right arm, handing him the ball for Game 6 despite concerns about his workload. Coming off a 132-pitch complete game in Game 2, Yamamoto’s velocity dipped to 91 mph in the 8th inning that night – a red flag the Blue Jays’ analytic team has surely noted. Toronto’s right-handed power hitters have batted .305 against pitchers showing >2 mph velocity drops this postseason.

Key considerations for Yamamoto’s start:

• Toronto’s .520 slugging percentage vs fastballs >95 mph (best in playoffs)
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s .412 career average against splitters like Yamamoto’s
• LA’s depleted bullpen forcing Yamamoto to likely pitch beyond 100 pitches

The pitching plan reveals LA’s desperation. Skipper Dave Roberts is sacrificing potential Game 7 flexibility to survive tonight, knowing Yamamoto at 85% is still their best option against a Toronto lineup that crushed lefties all year.

This is either the gutsiest call of Roberts’ career or a managerial blunder we’ll discuss for decades. Yamamoto’s splitter looks unhittable when fresh, but if he loses 3-4 ticks on his fastball by the 5th inning, those hanging splitters will land in the Rogers Centre seats.

The Ohtani Conundrum: Baseball’s Best Hitter Goes Ice Cold

Shohei Ohtani’s historic season risks being overshadowed by a World Series performance he’ll want to forget. His 2-for-21 slump includes:

• 17 strikeouts (worst in WS history through 5 games)
• 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position
• 38% chase rate on pitches outside the zone

Toronto’s scouting department deserves credit for their surgical approach – burying Ohtani with backfoot sliders (.167 BA against) while avoiding his nitro zone (inner-half fastballs). The psychological warfare has been equally effective, with Jays’ catchers visibly setting up outside before pitches even when empty bases suggest fastball counts.

Watch Ohtani’s back foot in the box tonight. If he’s starting farther off the plate, that adjustment might finally solve Toronto’s slider barrage. But if he’s still lunging, this could be another 0-for-4 with 3K kind of night.

Mookie Betts’ Defensive Collapse: Gold Glover or Liability?

Once considered baseball’s most complete player, Betts has committed 4 errors this series – matching his regular season total. Advanced metrics reveal alarming trends:

The defensive lapses appear mental rather than physical. Betts has repeatedly taken poor routes on liners to right-center, including Game 5’s costly error that sparked Toronto’s rally. With George Springer potentially returning from injury, Betts will face even more defensive tests tonight.

Bullpen Chess Without Closer Evan Phillips

LA’s relief corps enters Game 6 without their most trusted arm (Phillips’ 1.98 ERA in playoffs) due to forearm tightness. The new-look hierarchy presents challenges:

• Brusdar Graterol: Sinker-heavy approach vulnerable to Toronto’s lefty power (Matt Chapman 2 HRs off him in ALDS)
• Ryan Brasier: Velocity spike but struggles with command (4.1 BB/9 in Oct)
• Alex Vesia – Reverse splits make him dangerous against righties (.195 BAA)

The Dodgers may need to get creative, potentially using Yamamoto as a multi-inning weapon even if he starts. Roberts could deploy an opener like Caleb Ferguson to steal early outs before turning to his ace.

Don’t sleep on Shelby Miller as the X-factor. His curveball got 5 whiffs on 8 pitches in Game 3 – that’s the kind of wipeout stuff that plays in the 7th inning of elimination games.

Freddie Freeman: The Unlikely Linchpin

Freddie Freeman’s .571 OBP with RISP this series makes him the Dodgers’ most dangerous hitter despite limited RBI chances. Toronto’s reluctance to challenge him (just 41% strikes with runners on) has created a fascinating dynamic:

• Freeman batting 4th forces Jays to pitch to Ohtani (often intentionally)
• When Jays walk Freeman, it puts pressure on slumping Max Muncy
• Freeman’s 17% walk rate is highest among cleanup hitters in WS history

The numbers suggest Roberts should move Freeman up to the 2-hole to guarantee more ABs, but disrupting the lineup now could backfire.

Historical Context: Do Eliminated Teams Have Hope?

Since 2010, teams facing elimination in Game 6 of the World Series are 8-7 – proving the Dodgers’ situation isn’t dire. The parallels to recent champions are striking:

• 2019 Nationals won Games 6-7 on road with Scherzer/Strasburg
• 2016 Cubs clinched in 10 innings at Progressive Field
• 2014 Giants won Game 7 in Kansas City with Madison Bumgarner

The Dodgers’ .721 road winning percentage this year (best in MLB) suggests they’re built for this exact scenario. With Toronto’s offense slumping (.212 team BA last 3 games) and potential Game 6 jitters, LA might force the first winner-take-all Game 7 since 2017.

History says never count out a team with two aces. Even if Yamamoto struggles tonight, Clayton Kershaw lurks for Game 7 with extra rest. This Rogers Centre crowd might witness something special.