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LAD • Pitcher • #18
3 months ago
To say Yamamoto was deserving of the honor would be a massive understatement. The 27-year-old ace authored a 105-pitch complete-game masterpiece in Game 2 against Toronto, earning a crucial win that evened the best-of-seven series. He returned to the mound in Game 6 with the Dodgers facing elimination and delivered again, allowing just one run over six strong innings. Then, on zero days’ rest, Yamamoto recorded the final eight outs in Game 7 — twice pitching out of jams with a runner on third and less than two outs without surrendering a run. His legendary workhorse performance — throwing caution to the wind with a championship on the line — stands out even more in an era when pitchers’ workloads are so carefully managed He was the defining force in what will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the greatest World Series ever played.
Source: Fabian Ardaya
LAD • Pitcher • #18
3 months ago
To say that Yamamoto was well-deserving of the honor would be a massive understatement. The 27-year-old hurler fired a 105-pitch complete game masterpiece against the Jays in Game 2, earning a much-needed victory that evened the Series at one game apiece. He then took the hill with the Dodgers’ backs up against the wall in Game 6 on Friday and earned another victory — surrendering just one run over six stellar frames. He then got the final eight outs in Game 7 on Saturday night on zero days rest, twice pitching his way out of jams with runners on third base and less than two outs without allowing a single run. He was the best player in what may go down as the greatest World Series in the history of the sport.
Source: Fabian Ardaya
LAD • Pitcher • #18
3 months ago
Despite throwing 96 pitches during a victory over the Blue Jays in a must-win game on Friday night, Yamamoto told manager Dave Roberts before the game that he was ready and available out of the bullpen if needed. They called his name with two men on and one out during a tied game in the ninth inning. He plunked Alejandro Kirk to load the bases before getting Daulton Varsho to bounce into a fielder’s choice that cut down the potential winning run at the plate. He then retired Ernie Clement on a fly ball into the gap in left center that required a crazy running catch by Andy Pages. Yamamoto then returned to work scoreless frames in the 10th and 11th innings — getting Alejandro Kirk to bounce into a season-ending double play with the tying run on third base in the 11th. An absolutely Herculean effort by Yamamoto. He finishes the postseason with a stellar 1.45 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and a 33/6 K/BB ratio over 36 2/3 innings, earning five victories.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
3 months ago
Despite throwing 96 pitches in a must-win victory over the Blue Jays on Friday night, Yamamoto told manager Dave Roberts before Game 7 that he was ready — and available — out of the bullpen if needed. Roberts called his name with two men on and one out in a tie game in the ninth. After plunking Alejandro Kirk to load the bases, Yamamoto induced Daulton Varsho to bounce into a fielder’s choice that cut down the potential winning run at the plate, then escaped the inning when Ernie Clement’s drive into the left-center gap was tracked down by Andy Pages on a sensational running catch. Yamamoto wasn’t done. He came back out to fire scoreless frames in the 10th and 11th innings, sealing the title by getting Kirk to roll into a season-ending double play with the tying run on third in the 11th. An absolutely herculean effort from Yamamoto, who finished the postseason with a dominant 1.45 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and a 33/6 K/BB ratio over 36 2/3 innings — earning five victories and a permanent place in Dodgers lore.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
3 months ago
The 27-year-old right-hander threw 96 pitches during Friday night’s victory over the Blue Jays in Game 6. He played catch on the field on Saturday afternoon though and told his skipper that he’s ready to go if needed out of the bullpen. It’ll be an all hands-on deck approach for the Dodgers in a winner-take-all Game 7 on Saturday night in Toronto.
Source: Bob Nightengale
LAD • Pitcher • #18
3 months ago
Let’s do seven. Yamamoto wasn’t as dominant as his sensational Game 2 start, but that’s more compliment to that outing than insult to this one. The 27-year-old gave up just one run on a 3-0 pitch he left in the middle of the plate to George Springer for a run-scoring single. He did have to wiggle out of some james, but wiggle out he did. It seems very unlikely that Yamamoto will be available for Sunday’s Game 7, but his impressive regular season campaign and spectacular postseason will make him one of the first pitchers off the board come 2026 draft time.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
3 months ago
Yamamoto struck out eight batters on the evening and didn’t walk a batter. He retired the final 20 hitters that he faced in order following Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s one-out single in the third inning. The lone tally against him came on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Alejandro Kirk in the third. He becomes the first Dodgers’ pitcher since Orel Hershiser in 1988 to have consecutive complete games during the postseason — and in the era of pitch counts and specialized bullpens, Yamamoto’s feat may be even more impressive. The 27-year-old right-hander generated 17 whiffs on 105 pitches in the contest — six on his splitter — while registering a CSW of 32 percent. He now boasts a 1.57 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and a 26/4 K/BB ratio over 28 2/3 innings in his four starts this postseason. He’ll be ready once again should the series push to a Game 6 on Friday in Toronto.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
3 months ago
Yamamoto became the first pitcher to throw consecutive complete games in the postseason since Curt Schilling accomplished the feat back in 2001. The 27-year-old fantasy ace struck out eight batters on the evening and didn’t walk a batter. He retired the final 20 hitters that he faced following Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s one-out single in the third inning. The lone tally against him came on a sacrifice fly from Alejandro Kirk in the third. He’s the first Dodgers pitcher since Orel Hershiser in 1988 to record back-to-back complete games during the postseason — and in the era of pitch counts and specialized bullpens, Yamamoto’s feat may be even more impressive. He generated 17 swinging strikes in the contest — six on his splitter — while registering a 32 percent CSW. He now boasts a 1.57 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and a 26/4 K/BB ratio over 28 2/3 innings in his four starts this postseason. He’ll be ready once again should the series push to a Game 6 on Friday in Toronto.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
3 months ago
Yamamoto shook off a leadoff homer by Brewers star Jackson Chourio to deliver an epic playoff performance, tossing the first complete game in the postseason since future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander accomplished the feat for the Astros back in 2017. The 27-year-old Dodgers ace held Milwaukee scoreless over his final eight frames, needing just 111 pitches (81 strikes) to go the distance. He recorded seven strikeouts and allowed just three baserunners following Chourio’s leadoff blast to silence a raucous American Family Field crowd. With the victory, the Dodgers take a commanding 2-0 lead with the best-of-seven series heading back to Los Angeles following a pair of impressive road wins.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
3 months ago
So, the Dodgers would rather have Yamamoto work on five days’ rest in Games 2 and 6 than get two starts out of Shohei Ohtani and then have to try Yamamoto on four days’ rest by using him in Games 3 and 7. It makes sense given just how trustworthy Yamamoto has been of late. This probably means that Ohtani, who last pitched in Game 1 against the Phillies and would have started Game 5, won’t pitch until Game 4 against the Brewers, since Tyler Glasnow is better set up to pitch in Games 3 and 7.
Source: Fabian Ardaya
LAD • Pitcher • #18
3 months ago
Yamamoto was able to fire three clean innings, but the fourth was a different story. The 27-year-old allowed a solo homer to Kyle Schwarber, an RBI single to Alec Bohm, and a sac fly that scored Bohm off the bat of Brandon Marsh. The right-hander had looked sensational in his most recent outings, but that laborious loss — and no help from his offense — secured the loss. If the Dodgers move on to the NLCS, Yamamoto very likely gets the ball in Game 1 or Game 2 against the Cubs or Brewers.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
4 months ago
The runs came in the first after Teoscar Hernández botched a flyball in right field and Sal Stewart slapped a two-run single through the infield. Yamamoto was brilliant, though, and improved to 3-0 with a 2.84 ERA in five postseason starts since debuting for the Dodgers last season. He’ll probably make his next start in Game 3 of the NLDS next Wednesday.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
4 months ago
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made it official that Yamamoto will get the ball for Wednesday’s critical showdown at Dodger Stadium. He also added that Shohei Ohtani would probably start Thursday’s decisive Game 3 matchup, if necessary. The 27-year-old fantasy ace wrapped up his second season in Los Angeles with a stellar 2.49 ERA and 201/59 K/BB ratio across 173 2/3 innings over 30 starts. He was phenomenal down the home stretch with a microscopic 0.67 ERA across 27 innings over four starts in September.
Source: Sonja Chen
LAD • Pitcher • #18
4 months ago
Yamamoto ends the regular season 12-8 with a 2.49 ERA that ranks fourth in MLB, 201 strikeouts and a 0.99 WHIP. It seemed unlikely that any Dodgers starter would qualify for the ERA title with the team using a six-man rotation, but Yamamoto threw 173 2/3 innings over 30 starts. No one else on the team has made more than 21 starts or thrown more than 107 1/3 innings. Coming into the day, Yamamoto had 4.5 bWAR and the rest of the Dodger had 4.3 combined.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
4 months ago
Yamamoto struggled to locate, but he allowed just one hit and struck out seven before being pulled in the sixth after 108 pitches in a scoreless game. It’s the third straight start in which he’s allowed exactly one hit, and dating back to the middle of August, he’s given up a total of 15 hits over 41 innings. For the season, he’s fourth in the majors with a 2.58 ERA and sixth with a 0.99 WHIP. He’s lined up to make his final regular-season start next Thursday against the Diamondbacks.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
4 months ago
It’s another masterpiece, and another no-decision. Baseball is definitely fair. Yamamoto allowed just one hit again, but this time it came in the first inning rather than with two outs in the ninth. The 27-year-old right-hander was absolutely lights out after giving up that run on a double by Willy Adames, and he deserved better. The same can be said of Justin Verlander, however, who matched him zero-for-zero for the majority of the contest. Yamamoto will get a chance for revenge when he squares off against the Giants again Thursday.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
4 months ago
Jackson Holliday homered with two outs in the ninth, at which point Yamamoto was pulled with a 3-1 lead. The Orioles then came back and won from there. Yamamoto had two no-hitters in Japan, one in 2022 and one in 2023. His stuff was exceptional tonight, with his velocity up by 1.5-2 mph on most of his pitches. The Dodgers let him go into the ninth even though he was at 104 pitches, which was just six shy of his MLB high. He ended up throwing 112, which is still 26 fewer than his no-hitter from 2023. Yamamoto struck out 10 and walked two. He’s 11-8 with a 2.72 ERA, and he’ll face the Giants next.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
5 months ago
The 27-year-old right-hander scattered four hits on the afternoon and didn’t walk a batter. The lone tally against him came on an RBI single off the bat of Adrian Del Castillo in the fourth inning. He exited with a comfortable 4-1 lead and in line for a victory but the Dodgers blew it for him the inning after he left. Yamamoto piled up a whopping 20 swings and misses on 98 pitches on the day — 11 on his splitter — while posting an elite CSW of 41 percent. He’ll try to get back in the win column as he carries a pristine 2.82 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and a 167/48 K/BB ratio (146 2/3 innings) into Saturday’s showdown against the Orioles in Baltimore.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
5 months ago
Yamamoto struck out six opposing hitters on the afternoon while issuing a pair of walks. All of the damage done against him came on one mighty swing of the bat by Elias Díaz in the third inning. The 27-year-old right-hander generated 14 whiffs over 92 pitches on the day — six on his splitter — while posting a strong CSW of 35 percent. Now 11-8 on the season, he’ll carry a 2.90 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and a 157/48 K/BB ratio (139 2/3 innings) into Sunday’s battle against the Diamondbacks.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
5 months ago
Yamamoto gave up four hits and two walks, and he struck out six. It wasn’t a dominant effort for the 27-year-old, but it was a nice bounceback from his shaky start last week against the Angels where he struggled to throw consistent strikes. He’ll take a 2.90 ERA into a start scheduled for Sunday against the Padres.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
5 months ago
Yamamoto was hit quite a bit harder than usual tonight, but he was a little unlucky in giving up four runs on a HBP and three singles in the fifth. The six runs allowed is a new season high and is two more than he gave up in his previous four starts combined. He’d seem to deserve considerably better than a 10-8 record with his 2.84 ERA for a first-place team. He’ll likely make his next start Monday in Colorado.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
6 months ago
Yamamoto struck out six and walked none while throwing 62 of his 88 pitches for strikes. He allowed a two-out single to Ha-Seong Kim in the sixth inning, and Dave Roberts decided to go to the pen, which might be a signal that the team is going to be deliberate with Yamamoto’s workload over the final two months. The 26-year-old posted a 15 percent whiff rate and 26 percent CSW. He pounded the zone with his fastball, curve, and cutter and induced plenty of weak contact. He’ll get a stiffer test next weekend against the Blue Jays.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
6 months ago
Yamamoto had nine strikeouts and 21 whiffs in a dominant performance tonight. Just two of the 16 balls in play against him were hard hit. The win makes him 9-7 with a 2.48 ERA. He’s sixth in the majors in ERA, 12th with a 1.04 WHIP and 16th with 133 strikeouts. Unless something changes with the Dodgers rotation, Yamamoto probably won’t pitch again until next Monday against the Cardinals.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
6 months ago
Yamamoto started the second inning with a base hit and a walk before an error brought a run home for the Twins. Minnesota added two more runs on a double before he could get out of the inning. Yamamoto settled in for three more scoreless innings, ending his day at 101 pitches with eight strikeouts. The 26-year-old right-hander will take a 2.55 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and a 124/37 K/BB ratio across 109 1/3 innings into a start against the Reds in Cincinnati on Tuesday.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
6 months ago
The 26-year-old right-hander scattered just three hits and two walks on the afternoon. The only time that the Giants reached second base against him was on a two-out double off the bat of Jung-Hoo Lee in the seventh inning. He exited with a 2-0 lead and in line for his ninth victory of the season until Tanner Scott suffered a blown save in the ninth inning. Yamamoto got 13 swings and misses on 91 pitches on the day — six of those on his splitter — while posting a strong CSW of 33 percent. He finishes a terrific first half with an 8-7 record, 2.59 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and a 116/36 K/BB ratio over 104 1/3 innings in 19 starts.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
6 months ago
Yamamoto gave up a double and a walk to start the game, but he rebounded to retire the next two batters on soft contact. After that, though, came a three-run homer, a single, a walk, a Mookie Betts throwing error, and a bloop single. Yamamoto was at 41 pitches at this point, so even though there’s a good chance he would have rebounded, the Dodgers opted to take him out. The brief outing probably assures that he will make another start before the break against the Giants on Sunday, which would mean he’d be ineligible to pitch in the All-Star Game.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
7 months ago
Yamamoto was stellar on Tuesday, holding the White Sox to one run over seven frames. The one run game on a base hit and a double in the fourth inning. He scattered one other hit and one walk while striking out seven batters. The 26-year-old right-hander will take an excellent 2.51 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and a 109/32 K/BB ratio across 96 2/3 innings into a start against the Brewers in Milwaukee on Monday.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
7 months ago
Yamamoto was stellar on Tuesday, holding the White Sox to one run over seven frames. The one run game on a base hit and a double in the fourth inning. He scattered one other hit and one walk while striking out seven batters. The 26-year-old right-hander will take an excellent 2.51 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and a 109/32 K/BB ratio across 96 2/3 innings into a start against the Brewers in Milwaukee on Monday.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
7 months ago
Yamamoto got the win anyway, and he moved to 7-6 after throwing just 56 pitches. He’s 7-6 with a 2.61 ERA ahead of a very favorable matchup against the White Sox next week.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
7 months ago
It’s worth noting that Yamamoto should have had an immaculate inning Thursday, but Marvin Hudson had one of the worst misses you’ll see from a home plate umpire on a pitch down the middle. The right-hander was mostly effective in the outing and pounded the strike zone with 70-of-100 pitches landing, but a quality start went wasted with yet another poor offensive performance with Yamamoto on the mound for the Dodgers. It will be hard for them not to score runs in his next scheduled start against the Rockies in Colorado.