Dodgers vs. Blue Jays World Series Game 6 live updates: Lineups, news, predictions and odds

Two years ago, just weeks after signing Shohei Ohtani to a $700-million deal, the Dodgers announced another open-market splash by signing Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto for 12 years, $325 million. Yamamoto was the most accomplished Japanese starter to come to America since Ohtani, and he got the most guaranteed money ever given to a pitcher.

In the two seasons since, Yamamoto has largely lived up to expectations. Injury limited him to 18 starts last season, but he was good when he pitched, including a terrific start in last year’s World Series. This year, he was the total package, making 30 starts and finishing with the second-best ERA in the NL. He led the Dodgers in innings by a massive margin (none of his teammates came within 60 innings of Yamamoto’s workload).

That impact has been magnified in the postseason, where Yamamoto’s last two playoff starts have been complete games, including a Game 2 masterpiece in this World Series when Yamamoto struck out eight and walked none. These are his numbers:

Japan

• 188 games, 1.72 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 9.2 K/9, 2.0 BB/9

Major League career

• 48 games, 2.66 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 10.4 K/9, 2.8 BB/9

Regular season

• 30 games, 2.75 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 10.4 K/9, 3.1 BB/9

Postseason

• 4 games, 1.57 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, 8.2 K/9, 1.3 BB/9