The Los Angeles Dodgers saved Yoshinobu Yamamoto for Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves, but their Game 2 loss raised questions about that decision.

Los Angeles started deadline acquisition Tarik Skubal in Game 1, and the left-hander delivered an important performance in a 5-3 victory. Hoping to exploit Atlanta’s difficulties against left-handed pitching, the Dodgers selected Blake Snell for Game 2.

The plan did not produce another victory as Los Angeles lost 3-2. Snell allowed one run while surrendering three hits with five strikeouts and five walks in 3.2 innings. His efficiency was the problem, as he needed 90 pitches before leaving.

The Dodgers’ bullpen took over but could not secure the win. Los Angeles must take a tied series to Truist Park, where Atlanta defeated the Dodgers in all three regular season games.

There is no definitive way to determine whether Los Angeles would have won with Yamamoto pitching. However, his 2026 performance makes the questions understandable.

Yamamoto completed at least five innings in all 28 starts and stopped after exactly five only once. He finished with a 2.53 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in 185 innings, recording 182 strikeouts.

His postseason history also supports the argument that he deserved a Game 1 or Game 2 assignment. Yamamoto dominated last year with a 1.45 ERA and 0.78 WHIP in 37.1 innings over six starts, and earned World Series MVP honors against the Toronto Blue Jays.

In his only regular season start against Atlanta on Aug. 27, Yamamoto gave up one run on four hits (one home run) with eight strikeouts and a walk in 6.1 innings to take the loss in a 1-0 road defeat.

That lack of offensive support has become a recurring problem against the Braves. Los Angeles entered the ninth inning Sunday with one run and did not reduce the deficit to one until its last out.

Regardless of the pitcher, the offense remains the larger concern and must improve for the Dodgers to advance.

Snell was not at his most dominant, but the decision was reasonable because of Atlanta’s performance against Skubal in Game 1 and its overall problems against left-handers. Snell had also excelled during the last two months of the regular season.

If manager Dave Roberts’ plan had succeeded, Los Angeles would have reached Game 3 with a series lead and Yamamoto waiting to pitch on the road. Instead, the Dodgers cannot spend time reconsidering Game 2 with their next game approaching.

Yamamoto brings reliability that becomes especially valuable during a tied postseason series. He works deep into games, controls difficult situations and prevents one poor sequence from disrupting his entire outing.

His preparation and composure allow him to handle road environments without changing his approach. He attacks hitters with confidence, adjusts when necessary and understands how to conserve energy while maintaining effectiveness.

This is why Yamamoto is ideally suited for Game 3. Los Angeles needs its offense to respond, but it also has a dependable starter capable of shifting the series back in its favor.