“Shota Imanaga shoved it up our b**** in Chicago” - Dave Roberts keen on defeating Cubs ace as Yoshinobu Yamamoto returns for anticipated duel
The Los Angeles Dodgers opened a three-game series on Monday with a 10-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium. The Cubs started pitcher Shota Imanaga, while the Dodgers had Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the mound.
It marked the second time the Dodgers faced Imanaga this season with the last being in Chicago in April. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts commented on ahead of Tuesday’s game against Imanaga:
"I want to beat this guy tonight. He shoved it up our b***s in Chicago. I want to hit the changeup, we're going to see a lot of changeups. (Kyle) Hendricks threw a lot of changeups. And I want to beat this guy."
"Then I can be happy about the great matchup that it was. He's having a heck of a year. I hope our two Japanese guys play better than their two Japanese guys."
Shota Imanaga last took the mound against the Dodgers on April 7, when he threw four scoreless innings, allowing two hits and three strikeouts in the Cubs' 8-1 win. Meanwhile, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, coming off the 60-day injured list, made his first start in almost three months.
The LA Dodgers' designated hitter Shohei Ohtani is batting leadoff, while the Chicago Cubs' right fielder Seiya Suzuki is in the No. 3 position in the lineup. This marks the second time in MLB history that four Japanese-born players are in the starting lineups of a game.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is anticipating high excitement from fans
With all four Japanese superstars facing off against each other in a single game, the Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who is of Japanese descent, was quite optimistic that the game will draw a large crowd.
"Certainly in Japan, people are going to be tuned in and excited. It should be a good crowd again and we expect a good performance," Roberts said (via Reuters).
Yamamoto, currently in his debut MLB season, inked a 12-year, $325 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in December last year. Similarly, Shota Imanaga is also in his rookie season after signing a four-year, $53 million contract with the Chicago Cubs in January, which includes a fifth-year option.