Yoshinobu Yamamoto could join Dodgers great in exclusive club with Game 6 start

The biggest question for the Dodgers going into Game 6, apart from whether or not their offense will wake up, is if Yoshinobu Yamamoto can actually pitch a third consecutive complete game in the postseason.

There were doubts that he would be able to do it the second time in Game 2 — Derek Jeter said decisively, "Yamamoto threw a complete game. He's not gonna throw one tomorrow night. He's not." — and then he did. And then he volunteered himself to come in for relief on two days' rest.

Game 3 was an anomaly and a miracle for the Dodgers' bullpen, a beleaguered unit that didn't allow a run during the last 13 innings, but the group came back down to earth in Games 4 and 5 and performed exactly the way everyone expect them to. Which is to say, poorly.

The Dodgers, facing elimination, need Yamamoto to go as far as he possibly can go, but could he really throw a third complete game?

If he does, he'll join an exclusive club made up of just Curt Schilling, Dodgers great Orel Hershiser, and Luis Tiant. Schilling did it in 2001, Hershiser in 1988, and Tiant in 1975.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto could join Orel Hershiser in MLB history if he throws a third consecutive complete game for Dodgers in Game 6

Schilling, an Arizona Diamondback at the time, went on his run from the NLDS against the Cardinals to the NLCS against the Braves. The Dbacks went on to win the World Series. Hershiser did it from the Dodgers' NLCS against the Mets to the World Series against the Athletics. The Dodgers went on to win the World Series. Tiant did it from the Red Sox's ALCS against the Athletics through the World Series against the Reds, but Boston was eventually felled by the Big Red Machine, four games to three.

Both Schilling and Hershiser were named World Series MVPs for their efforts in '01 and '88, and that's exactly where Yamamoto is headed if he joins them and Tiant (and if the Dodgers manage to win this thing).

There's little to no reason to worry about Yamamoto. He'll keep his side of the street clear even if he doesn't pitch through nine again, but it's up to the Dodgers' offense to do their part. Dodgers fans are skeptical, given their inability to provide Yamamoto run support throughout the regular season, but this is do-or-die.