TORONTO — The Dodgers will face rookie right-hander Trey Yesavage for the first time on Friday night – IRL.
The Toronto Blue Jays will start the 22-year-old in Game 1 of the World Series. The 20th pick in last year’s MLB draft, Yesavage started this season in Double-A, made his major-league debut on Sept. 15 and made just three regular-season starts.
That should make Yesavage a mystery to the Dodgers. But many of their hitters have already taken swings against him – thanks to the sophisticated technology of Trajekt, a pitching machine that simulates the visual of any major-league pitcher’s mechanics and the shape of his pitches.
“Nobody on our team has faced him before. So a lot of us tried to step in on the Trajekt to get a sense of what his release point will be and what his pitches will do,” utility man Tommy Edman said. “It is very unique. He’s got the super high release, kind of over to the side a little bit. It’ll be a unique look, but hopefully that’ll help us feel like we’ve had an at-bat or two off him and hopefully allow us to feel a little more comfortable once we get in the box.”
Reserve outfielder Alex Call is a big believer in the usefulness of simulation.
“I think it’s very helpful,” he said. “He’s unique. It’s like Peter Fairbanks, Nick Pivetta – those are the guys where the ball comes out here (holding his hand close to his ear). You can see the image on Trajekt. The whole (where the ball comes out) is actually on his face. Trevor Megill with Milwaukee who we just faced – the hand is right here where the ball comes out. You just don’t see that very much. To be able to get a feel for that on Trajekt I think is invaluable.
“Pitchers nowadays, they’re trying to use the whole spectrum. Being unique is good because we don’t get to see it. I try to take the unique and make it normal by using Trajekt, by using the (virtual reality) headset, just being prepared. If you know where the ball is coming from and you know what it looks like, then you’re prepared. You’ve already done your homework on it. So I know what it looks like. I don’t have to take a pitch. I know where it’s coming and I know what it looks like and I know where to look for it and I know what its shape is going to be like. Then I can just play ball.”
The 6-foot-4 Yesavage combines height with an unusually high arm angle – 63 degrees. Only Padres reliever Jeremiah Estrada’s 66-degree angle, as measured by Statcast, was higher this season.
“We’ve done everything we can to prepare. We know he’s unique and he’s going to present different challenges,” Dodgers hitting coach Robert Van Scoyoc said.
“We took a look (on Trajekt). Obviously it’s going to look a little different out there. The training environment and the competitive environment are never going to be one to one. Yeah, we did everything we could.”
BP SHO
Shohei Ohtani took batting practice on the field during the Dodgers’ off-day workout last week – the first time he had done so at Dodger Stadium since joining the team. That was followed two days later by his three-home run breakout in the NLCS.
He did it again during the Dodgers’ workout on Thursday, peppering the restaurant seating in center field with baseballs.
“There’s some things that I want to be able to do on the field that you can only do on the field, so I want to do that and just make sure – especially considering how we just don’t have a lot of games left,” Ohtani said through his interpreter.
Asked what he finds helpful about hitting on the field, Ohtani was cryptic.
“That’s a secret,” he said.
BAD MEMORIES
When the Series heads to Dodger Stadium for Games 3, 4 and 5 next week, Blue Jays leadoff man George Springer is certain to get a cold reception. Springer was a key member 2017 Houston Astros, who beat the Dodgers in the World Series and were later revealed to have used a sophisticated sign-stealing system.
None of the players involved were disciplined and any who come to Dodger Stadium on the visiting team – like Springer has – have been booed loudly.
“I mean, at the end of the day, I have a job to do and have a game to focus on,” Springer said when asked about that at Thursday’s media availability. “So that’s kind of the plan.”
The story of the 2017 scandal “that’s in the past,” he said. “This is about the now.”
AWARD SEASON
First baseman Freddie Freeman, third baseman Max Muncy, catcher Will Smith and Ohtani were all named Silver Slugger finalists in the National League at their positions. The Silver Slugger award goes to the best offensive performer at each position.
In his first full season at the position, Mookie Betts was named the Fielding Bible Award winner for his defense at shortstop.
UP NEXT
Game 1 – Dodgers (LHP Blake Snell, 3-0, 3.86 ERA) at Blue Jays (RHP Trey Yesavage, 2-1, 4.20 ERA), Friday, 5 p.m. PT, FOX (Ch. 11), 570 AM