Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s second big-league season was about what the Los Angeles Dodgers signed up for.
Yamamoto capped his exceptional second year by topping the 200-strikeout threshold in his final start of the regular season, an 8-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks that clinched the National League West title — LA’s 12th in the past 13 years.
Yamamoto, who just completed the second season of a 12-year, $325 million contract, finished 12-8 with a 2.49 ERA while making a team-high 30 starts for the Dodgers. The Dodgers needed his contribution since their rotation was decimated by injuries, notably to Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and others.
Through two seasons, Yamamoto is 19-10 with a 2.66 ERA, 306 strikeouts and a 1.03 WHIP in 263 2/3 innings.
He will enter the postseason on a tear too. Yamamoto has allowed just three earned runs and 11 hits while striking out 44 in his past 34 innings over five outings.
‘Good Conditioning’ Helped Yamamoto Post Career-High Numbers
Yamamoto led Los Angeles with 173 2/3 innings and became the first Dodgers starter since Walker Buehler in 2021 to post 200-plus strikeouts in a season, since the organization has been afflicted with injuries to its starting staff.
The right-hander chalked up his consistent season to being in good shape, especially after threw just 90 innings in 2024 and missed about three months due to a right-shoulder and triceps injury.
“I’ve been really happy to maintain good conditioning and performance throughout the season,” Yamamoto said through an interpreter.
Despite his outstanding season, Yamamoto gets overshadowed by Ohtani, Glasnow, Snell and franchise legend Clayton Kershaw — who announced he will retire at season’s end.
Yet, according to Kershaw, Yamamoto needs to get more recognition after pitching like an ace in 2025 and should be in the mix for the National League Cy Young award.
“He’s not forgotten on our team. He’s been unbelievable,” Kershaw said amid the celebration Thursday. “I know [Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul] Skenes had a great year, and he rightfully should win the Cy Young, but [Yamamoto] is right there if not more, and we’re glad he’s on our team.”
Manager Dave Roberts lauded Yamamoto’s brilliant year and offered high praise for the 27-year-old, who is surrounded by elite starters.
“It was a great finish to a great season,” Roberts said. “I’m proud of him of his growth, and he’s a staff ace.”
Yamamoto Hoping To Lean On Last Year’s Postseason Experience
Yamamoto’s dominant 2025 really started during the 2024 postseason, when he went 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA while helping LA win the World Series in five games over the New York Yankees.
But Yamamoto allowed just seven hits and three earned runs and struck out 14 in 15 2/3 innings (1.73 ERA) over his final three playoff starts after getting lit up by the San Diego Padres in Game 1 of the NLDS in his postseason debut a year ago.
So Yamamoto is planning to use both the good and bad experiences from the postseason last year ahead of his first playoff start — which could be Game 1 of the NL wild card series Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.
“Last season we won the championship,” Yamamoto said. “This year, I’d like to utilize the experience from last October, and [this year] I’d like to make it better.”
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