Yoshinobu Yamamoto Starts Second MLB Season Strong
Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto looked dominant in five strong innings in his first start of the season, helping the Dodgers secure the 4-1 victory in the first game of the Tokyo Series. Yamamoto allowed three hits, one walk, and one earned run in five innings while picking up four strikeouts. He had the whole arsenal working against the Cubs, and his splitter was especially effective, drawing a 47% whiff rate. He threw the pitch a couple of miles per hour harder than he did last year, which seemed to make it even more effective. His great start to 2025 is a sharp contrast to his 2024 outing in South Korea when he allowed five runs in just one inning in his MLB debut. Yamamoto's next start will likely be in the Dodgers' series against the Tigers on March 27 through March 29, when the team starts the stateside portion of their regular season schedule.
The Los Angeles Dodgers officially announced on Tuesday that right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start the first game of the 2025 regular season on March 18 against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo, Japan. It was always expected that Yamamoto would start the first game in his native Japan, and now it's official. The 26-year-old second-year hurler allowed just a run on four hits while walking one and striking out seven in five innings in his final Cactus League start on Monday. In his three spring starts, he went eight innings and gave up five earned runs while walking two and striking out seven. For DFS purposes, the Cubs aren't the best season-opening matchup, but most fantasy managers that take Yamamoto as a low-end fantasy ace/high-end No. 2 will be throwing him out there to kick things off given his strikeout upside.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto To Start Cactus League Opener On Thursday
The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya reports that Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto will make the start in the team's Cactus League opener on Thursday versus the Chicago Cubs. Yamamoto is also expected to start L.A.'s regular-season opener in Tokyo, Japan, against the same Cubs on March 18 and be opposed by fellow countryman Shota Imanaga. A six-man starting rotation for the Dodgers to begin the year will lower Yamamoto's fantasy ceiling a bit, but he should still be considered a low-end fantasy ace/high-end No. 2 starter after a promising first year in the States in 2024 that saw him go 7-2 with a 3.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 105 strikeouts over 90 innings pitch (18 starts). The 26-year-old did miss time with a rotator-cuff strain, and questions about his durability is probably the biggest knock on his fantasy profile.
Dodgers Plan To Use Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki In Tokyo Series
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on MLB Network that the team's plan is to use both Japanese right-handers Yoshinobu Yamamoto and rookie Roki Sasaki in the season-opening series from March 18-19 in Tokyo, Japan, against the Chicago Cubs. "The expectation is for both those guys to pitch," Roberts said. It's likely that Yamamoto will take the hill in the first game and matchup against Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga, with Sasaki going in Game 2. Yamamoto, who looked really good in his first year in the big leagues in 2024, should be considered a low-end No. 1 fantasy starter going into his sophomore season, with Sasaki being more of a low-end No. 2 starter given question marks about his durability as he makes the transition to the States. While the Dodgers are saying they won't have any restrictions on the 23-year-old to begin the year, you have to imagine at some point they'll be monitoring Sasaki's innings.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto tossed six 1/3 frames of one run ball en route to earning the victory in Game 2 of the World Series. He allowed just one hit, two walks, and struck out four. His lone blemish came off a solo shot from Juan Soto in the third inning. Since allowing five earned runs in his postseason debut, the right-hander has been exceptional and has allowed just three runs across his most recent 15 2/3 frames. DFS players should expect the 26-year-old to get another opportunity to start if the series returns to Los Angeles in Games 6 or 7.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto will get the starting nod in Game 2 of the World Series in hopes to extend their series lead. After struggling in his postseason debut, the right-hander has performed exceptionally well as he has tossed nine 1/3 frames in two outings and allowed only two runs and six hits in this span. In addition, he has only walked two batters while striking out ten in this stretch. When Yamamoto faced this Yankee lineup in June, he allowed just two hits across seven shutout frames. Given his past performance against them and his previous two postseason outings, Yamamoto will be a popular pick this evening in DFS as he looks to put the Dodgers two games ahead in the series.
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday at Dodger Stadium against the New York Yankees, following right-hander Jack Flaherty in Game 1 on Friday. Yamamoto was welcomed rudely to the postseason by the San Diego Padres in Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Oct. 5, when he allowed five earned runs while walking two and striking out one in three innings. But the Japanese hurler bounced back nicely, giving up two earned runs on six hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out 10 over his next two starts (9 1/3 innings) against the Padres and New York Mets. The 26-year-old tossed seven shutout innings with seven K's against the Yankees in the Bronx back on June 7, but he won't come without some risk against a potent Yankees lineup that is heating up heading into the World Series.
As expected, Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start Game 4 of the National League Championship Series on Thursday at Citi Field against the New York Mets, according to manager Dave Roberts. Yamamoto was shaky in his first career playoff start in Game 1 of the NL Division Series against the San Diego Padres, when he allowed five earned runs on five hits (one homer) with two walks and only one strikeout in three innings. He bounced back nicely in the Game 5 start against the Friars, though, throwing five shutout innings with a walk and two strikeouts. The Japanese hurler hasn't missed many bats in the postseason and will now face a hot Mets offense on the road. The 26-year-old gave up four runs (three earned) while walking one and punching out nine in six innings in his only start against the Mets in 2024, but it came way back on April 19 in his fifth start in the majors.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto Leads The Way In Game 5 Victory
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto earned his first victory of the postseason on Friday evening as the Dodgers defeated the Padres to clinch the NLDS. The right-hander tossed five shutout frames and allowed just two hits and a walk. He struck out two. This was a nice bounce-back outing for the 26-year-old as he allowed five earned runs across three frames in Game 1. Yamamoto battled injuries throughout the season but is beginning to find his stride at the perfect time. DFS players should consider adding Yamamoto to their lineup when he makes his next start against the New York Mets in the NLCS.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto is set to start Game 5 of their NLDS series against the San Diego Padres on Friday. Yamamoto was knocked around by the Padres in Game 1 last Saturday, but will have a chance at redemption now. He will face tough opposition with Yu Darvish starting on the other side and will surely be on a short leash after surrendering five runs in three innings his last time out. That said, the 26-year-old is certainly capable of shutting down any lineup, including the formidable Padres.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto
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Dodgers
