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As the 2024 Major League Baseball postseason continues, all eyes turn to Dodger Stadium on Friday night. The Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres are set to duke it out in Game 5 of the National League Division Series, with the victor advancing to face the New York Mets in the Championship Series. The stakes couldn’t be higher, as a loss would mean an end to the season for either team.

The first pitch is slated for 8:08 p.m. ET, and several key questions loom over the showdown. For the Dodgers, the primary concern is their bullpen strategy. Given Yoshinobu Yamamoto's shaky performance in Game 1, where he allowed five runs over three innings, and his limited pitch count since returning from a shoulder issue, the Dodgers are not banking on him pitching deep into the game. Manager Dave Roberts is contemplating how to best utilize his bullpen, especially coming off a successful bullpen game in Game 4 that saw eight pitchers combine to blank the Padres.

Roberts acknowledged that Yamamoto's role in Game 5 is still under discussion. The approach to the game will heavily depend on how well Yamamoto starts. Should he falter as he did previously against the Padres, Roberts would not hesitate to pull him early and pivot to a bullpen strategy that proved effective just two days prior.

Adding another layer of complexity for the Dodgers is the condition of Freddie Freeman. Freeman, struggling with a right ankle sprain, missed the crucial Game 4 but will play in Game 5, batting third. His health remains questionable, making his contributions uncertain as the Dodgers fight to stay alive in the postseason.

On the opposing side, the Padres have their own critical concerns, particularly their slumping offense. After a six-run explosion in the second inning of Game 3, San Diego has gone silent, failing to score in their last 15 innings. Players like Luis Arraez have underperformed, and Manager Mike Shildt highlighted the team's lack of timely hitting after their Game 4 loss.

Despite their offensive struggles, the Padres have a strong chance with Yu Darvish starting on the mound. Darvish excelled in Game 2, delivering seven innings of one-run baseball. Refreshed after a personal matter kept him away midseason, Darvish might be in better shape than most starters at this point in the year. Should Darvish struggle, Shildt has options, including potential bullpen outings from starters like Michael King.

This Game 5 has all the makings of a classic playoff showdown, with strategic pitching decisions and key player performances likely determining which team will advance to the NLCS. Fans of both teams will be on the edge of their seats, knowing that every pitch could swing the fate of their season.