This game is the second match of the 2024 MLB Korea Opening Series, featuring the same teams as the previous game, the Los Angeles Dodgers versus the San Diego Padres. However, the roles were reversed with the Dodgers playing as the home team in this match.

This game marked the MLB regular-season debut for the Dodgers’ Japanese star, Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Over 7 seasons (2017-2023) in the Nippon Professional Baseball, Yamamoto pitched a total of 897 ⅓ innings, achieving a record of 70 wins and 29 losses, with an impressive ERA of 1.82. His performance drew significant attention from the Los Angeles Dodgers, leading to a 12-year contract worth $325 million during the 2023-2024 off-season.

On the other side, the Padres’ starting pitcher was the experienced Joe Musgrove. Despite a challenging spring training where he posted an ERA of 13.50 over 6 ⅓ innings, the Padres relied on his veteran presence to start him in the second game of the overseas opening series.

Also included here are highlights of the game from the MLB official YouTube channel. As this series of articles (2 parts) focuses on detailed game analysis, the video highlights are provided to offer viewers a concise overview of the entire match.

The following analysis is divided into 9 sections:
1️⃣ Dodgers’ starting pitcher – Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s performance
2️⃣ Padres’ starting pitcher – Joe Musgrove’s performance
3️⃣ Bullpen performance & pitching management from both teams
4️⃣ Batting performance & offensive strategy from both teams
5️⃣ Defensive performance & strategy from both teams
6️⃣ Challenges the Dodgers and Padres may face in the 2024 season
7️⃣ Features of Japanese pitcher Yuhei Matsui’s pitching
8️⃣ Why are home runs less frequent at Gocheok Sky Dome in Korea?
9️⃣ Summary

This article will cover sections 1️⃣ – 4️⃣. The next will address sections 5️⃣ – 9️⃣.

1️⃣ Dodgers’ starting pitcher – Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s performance

This game marked Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s first regular season game in Major League Baseball. Having pitched impressively over 7 seasons with the Orix Buffaloes in Japan’s professional baseball league, Yamamoto signed a massive 12-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 2023-2024 offseason, drawing significant attention from fans and media alike.

Unfortunately, Yamamoto’s performance in this game was less than ideal. He lasted only 1 1/3 innings, allowing 4 hits and 5 earned runs, along with 2 strikeouts, 1 walk, and one hit by pitch. Out of 43 pitches, only 23 were strikes (53.49% strike rate), often finding himself behind in the count, which made it easier for hitters to target pitches in the strike zone.

In this game, Yamamoto’s pitch breakdown was as follows:

⚾️ Four-seam fastball / 32.56% usage (14/43)
Average speed: 95.4 mph / Average spin rate: 2230 rpm
⚾️ Cutter / 25.58% usage (11/43)
Average speed: 90.0 mph / Average spin rate: 2380 rpm
⚾️ Curveball / 23.26% usage (10/43)
Average speed: 78.6 mph / Average spin rate: 2285 rpm
⚾️ Split-finger fastball / 18.69% usage (8/43)
Average speed: 90.3 mph / Average spin rate: 1379 rpm

Yamamoto’s four-seam fastball was effective in terms of speed, often exceeding 96 mph, better than his average fastball speed in Japan (94.4 mph). However, the spin rate was not ideal, averaging 2230 rpm, below the MLB average of around 2300 rpm, which made his fastball more vulnerable to the Padres’ hitters.

His splitter, traditionally a strong pitch, may have been affected by the difference in the baseballs used in MLB compared to those in Japan, which could have impacted its effectiveness in terms of movement and control.

Interestingly, Yamamoto’s cutter performed well, particularly in inducing swings and misses, with a 33.3% swing-and-miss rate on this pitch. This was evident when he struck out Jurickson Profar with a cutter in a crucial moment.

Despite a challenging MLB debut, Yamamoto’s overall pitch execution holds promise, especially if he can adjust his fastball’s spin rate and adapt to the MLB’s playing conditions.

2️⃣ Padres’ starting pitcher – Joe Musgrove’s performance

Joe Musgrove, a seasoned MLB pitcher in his ninth season, started Game 2 of the Korea Opening Series for the Padres. Despite struggling in spring training, Musgrove was tasked with this important start.

Musgrove struggled in this game, lasting only 2 2/3 innings while allowing 7 hits and 5 earned runs, along with 2 strikeouts and 2 walks. He threw 60 pitches, 38 of which were strikes (63.33% strike rate). His primary issue was not keeping the ball on the corners of the strike zone, and his sliders and curveballs did not have their usual deceptive effect, making it a tough outing.

Musgrove’s struggles in spring training, where he had similar issues, underscore the importance for the Padres of him regaining his form, especially as a key part of their starting rotation.

3️⃣ Bullpen performance & pitching management

Both starting pitchers performed poorly, lasting only 1 1/3 innings (Yamamoto) and 2 2/3 innings (Musgrove), respectively, which led to early calls to the bullpen. Notably, both teams used pitchers from their starting rotations in relief; the Dodgers brought in Michael Grove, and the Padres used Michael King, planned as a regular starter this season.

(Dodgers’ Bullpen)

Here are the innings and pitch counts for the Dodgers’ relievers in this game:
Michael Grove (RHP) / (2 2/3 innings) / 40 pitches
Kyle Hurt (RHP) / (2 2/3 innings) / 29 pitches
Alex Vesia (LHP) / (1 1/3 innings) / 19 pitches
Ryan Yarbrough (LHP) / (1 2/3 innings) / 38 pitches
J.P. Feyereisen (RHP) / (1 1/3 innings) / 23 pitches
Gus Varland (RHP) / (0 1/3 innings) / 2 pitches

Following Yamamoto’s early exit, the Dodgers’ bullpen was called upon sooner than expected. Michael Grove, initially successful, struggled in his second inning, allowing the Padres to score four runs and extend their lead to 9-2.

Despite a strong offensive effort by the Dodgers, which saw them scoring in six of the first eight innings, their bullpen was unable to contain the Padres’ hitters, playing a key role in the Dodgers’ loss.

(Padres’ Bullpen)

Here are the innings and pitch counts for the Padres’ relievers in this game:
Tom Cosgrove (LHP) / (2/3 inning) / 10 pitches
Michael King (RHP) / (3 1/3 innings) / 75 pitches
Yuhei Matsui (LHP) / (2/3 inning) / 9 pitches
Stephen Kolek (RHP) / (2/3 inning) / 13 pitches
Robert Suarez (RHP) / (1 1/3 innings) / 24 pitches

With the Padres’ bullpen heavily used in the previous game, there was hope that Musgrove would last longer. However, his short outing placed additional pressure on the bullpen.

Michael King, acquired in a trade with the New York Yankees, was notable for transitioning from a relief to a starting role. His ability to adapt and perform under pressure was crucial, as evidenced by his extended relief appearance in this game.

4️⃣ Batting performance & offensive strategy

This game, unlike the first, featured explosive offenses from both teams, with a combined total of 33 hits and 26 runs, each team scoring over 10 runs.

(Padres’ Lineup)

The Padres significantly improved their hitting, amassing 17 hits, highlighted by Manny Machado’s three-run homer in the ninth inning, which was the first home run for the Padres in the 2024 season. This home run not only extended their lead by four runs but also quashed any comeback hopes for the Dodgers.

Performance of the Padres’ starting lineup:
No.1 2B Xander Bogaerts
2-5, 2 RBI, 2 K, 1 BB

No.2 RF Fernando Tatis Jr
2-4, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 HBP

No.3 1B Jake Cronenworth
4-4, 4 RBI

No.4 DH Manny Machado
1-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 K, 2 BB

No.5 SS Ha-Seong Kim
0-4, 1 RBI, 1 BB

No.6 LF Jurickson Profar
0-3, 1 K, 1 BB

No.7 C Luis Campusano
3-6, 2 RBI

No.8 3B Tyler Wade
2-3, 1 RBI

No.9 CF Jackson Merrill
2-5, 3 K

Performance of the Padres’ pinch hitters:
No.6 Jose Azocar (PR)
1-2

No.8 Eguy Rosario (PH) (3B)
0-3, 1 K

The top three hitters in the Padres’ lineup alone combined for 8 hits and 7 RBIs, with Jake Cronenworth delivering a perfect 4-for-4 performance that included a two-RBI triple against Yamamoto, sparking a five-run inning for the Padres.

While the Padres showed strong hitting throughout the lineup, Ha-Seong Kim struggled, failing to get a hit in seven at-bats over two games, although he managed an RBI sacrifice fly in this game.

(Dodgers’ Lineup)

Despite a challenging start that saw them down by five runs early, the Dodgers’ lineup was relentless, managing to close the gap to just one run by the eighth inning.

Performance of the Dodgers’ starting lineup:
No.1 SS Mookie Betts
4-5, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 1 BB

No.2 DH Shohei Ohtani
1-5, 1 RBI

No.3 1B Freddie Freeman
1-4, 2 K, 2 BB

No.4 C Will Smith
4-6, 2 RBI, 1 K

No.5 3B Max Muncy
3-6, 2 K, 2 BB

No.6 LF Teoscar Hernandez
0–3, 2 K, 2 BB

No.7 CF James Outman
0-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB

No.8 RF Jason Heyward
2-5, 1 RBI

No.9 2B Gavin Lux
2-5, 1 K

Mookie Betts stood out with a spectacular performance, nearly achieving a cycle and driving in six runs. His home run in the fifth inning ignited the Dodgers’ offense, which consistently threatened throughout the game.

Despite solid contact, Shohei Ohtani’s hits frequently found gloves, and he faced additional pressure due to a scandal involving his interpreter, which could impact his future in MLB and his personal reputation.

This article will be followed by a continuation covering sections 5️⃣-9️⃣.

Sources:
Baseball Reference
Baseball Savant
MLB Official Website
United News Network
Information provided by baseball group members (regarding the baseball seams)
Fangraphs
CNA News Website