53 articles
LAD • Pitcher • #18
2 days ago
Yamamoto surrendered five hits, struck out four and issued four free passes in a less-than-spectacular start, even before considering expectations. Three of the runs were allowed on a Liam Hicks homer, but even outside of that, there was more traffic than anticipated. He still sports a 2.87 ERA, and fantasy managers should expect the 27-year-old to be back to his old self against the Astros in Houston on Monday.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
8 days ago
The Giants got to Yamamoto in the first inning, bringing home three runs on four hits and a walk. He settled in nicely to turn his outing around, giving up two hits and a walk over six more scoreless frames. Yamamoto ended his night strong in the seventh, striking out the side to collect seven strikeouts. The 27-year-old right-hander will take a 2.48 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and a 28/5 K/BB ratio across 32 2/3 innings into a start against the Marlins in Los Angeles on Monday.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
15 days ago
Yamamoto served up a solo homer to Francisco Lindor on the third pitch of the game. Like his counterpart in Nolan McLean, he locked in for the night, keeping the Mets from scoring again until he departed with two outs in the eighth inning. He scattered just three more hits and one walk while striking out seven on a whopping 23 whiffs. The 27-year-old right-hander ends the day with a 2.10 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, and a 21/3 K/BB ratio across 25 2/3 innings. He’ll take on the Giants next Tuesday in San Francisco.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
22 days ago
The lone run came in the sixth. In spite of that, the Dodgers sent him back out for the seventh, only to watch him give up a double and a bunt single to begin the inning. Fortunately, Alex Vesia stranded both runners after taking over. Yamamoto. who struck out six, picked up the win and improved to 2-1 with a 2.50 ERA. He’ll likely make his next start next Tuesday against the Mets.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
28 days ago
Yamamoto wasn’t at his sharpest in this one, seemingly battling some command issues throughout the contest, but still managed to navigate six frames on an economical 87 pitches. He finished with only two strikeouts and only handed out one free pass. The -year-old has allowed four runs with an 8/1 K/BB ratio across 12 innings through two starts this season. He’ll take the ball on Tuesday against the Blue Jays in a highly anticipated rematch of last year’s thrilling World Series.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
about 1 month ago
Yamamoto racked up six strikeouts on the evening and didn’t allow a base on balls. The only blemish on his night was a two-run blast off the bat of Geraldo Perdomo in the fourth inning. Aside from that, he was in complete command. The 27-year-old right-hander piled up 16 swings and misses on the night — half of them on his splitter — while registering a strong CSW of 33 percent. He’ll look to keep the good times rolling when he squares off against the Guardians on Wednesday.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
about 1 month ago
Yamamoto got 14 whiffs on 32 swings in his 68-pitch outing. He closes out the spring with a 2.79 ERA in his three starts for the Dodgers, and he’ll next face the Diamondbacks on Opening Day.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
about 1 month ago
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made the official announcement after Yamamoto returned from the World Baseball Classic. No surprise here after he helped lead Los Angeles to their second consecutive World Series title with multiple herculean performances during last year’s postseason, finishing with a sublime 1.45 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 33/6 K/BB ratio over 36 2/3 postseason innings.. The 27-year-old fantasy ace is a top-five starter in drafts this spring after compiling a sparkling 2.49 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 201/59 K/BB ratio across 173 2/3 innings in 30 regular-season starts.
Source: Bill Plunkett
LAD • Pitcher • #18
about 2 months ago
The right-hander punched out five on the night while issuing one base on balls. He served up a leadoff homer to Ronald Acuña Jr. to open the ballgame, then allowed an RBI double to Gleyber Torres in the second. Yamamoto generated nine swings and misses on 69 pitches, posting a CSW of 32 percent. He’ll now return to Dodgers’ camp much earlier than anticipated and continue getting ready for the start of the regular season.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
about 2 months ago
Yamamoto didn’t allow a single hit in this one, but he also struggled to put hitters away. He threw 82 percent first pitch strikes, so he got ahead easily, but he didn’t get many chases out of the zone on his splitter or curve, which made it hard for him to put away hitters. Still, his velocity looked good, and his pitch shapes all seem normal, so there isn’t much to be concerned about from a fantasy perspective this season.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
2 months ago
It’s unusual to see the 27-year-old hurler hit so hard, so perhaps he was working on some things during this outing. Yamamoto allowed a leadoff homer to Willy Adames then the Giants scratched out another run against him in the second on a pair of hits and a ground ball. He got eight whiffs on 52 pitches on the afternoon — four of them on his splitter — while registering an elite CSW of 38 percent. This was his final Cactus League start before Yamamoto departs to join Team Japan for the World Baseball Classic. Fantasy managers shouldn’t worry about this one, Yamamoto is still worthy of being one of the top five starting pitchers off the board in all drafts this spring.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
2 months ago
Yamamoto’s defense was less-than-spectacular, but the 27-year-old limited the damage thanks to the punchouts. He’s coming off a spectacular regular season on top of his postseason heroics, and he should be one of the very first starters off the board in all eligible drafts.
LAD • Pitcher • #18
2 months ago
This will likely be his only start with the Dodgers before he joins Team Japan for the World Baseball Classic. The 27-year-old right-hander is coming off of a ridiculous 2025 campaign where he posted a stellar 2.49 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and a 201/59 K/BB ratio across 173 2/3 innings and followed it up with one of the most dominant postseason performances in recent memory. Yamamoto currently sits as the fourth starting pitcher off the board in fantasy drafts, behind only Tarik Skubal, Paul Skenes and Garrett Crochet.
Source: Katie Woo
LAD • Pitcher • #18
6 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
6 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
6 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
6 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
6 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
6 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
6 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
6 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
7 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
7 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
7 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
7 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
7 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
7 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
7 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
8 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
8 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.