The Dodgers' starting pitching staff has been at its best this season under head coach Roberts' strategy of building a pitching trust tree, with Yujin Yamamoto sitting as the ace in his sophomore season.

Against the Reds, Roberts had the flexibility to move the bullpen around, but still started Yushin Yamamoto because as long as he was pitching, he had the best chance of winning. Yamamoto was as solid as he has been all season, surviving a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the sixth inning, and then retiring the side in the seventh inning after scratching out the first two outs to a standing ovation from the crowd as he threw a career-high 113 pitches. The Dodger starter dominated the game for the second night in a row, defeating the Reds 8-4 to advance to the championship game and eliminate their rivals.