Yoshinobu Yamamoto Fantasy Stats

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto's heavy workload during the team's World Series run last fall, in just his second year in the big leagues, doesn't appear to have affected him so far in 2026. Through his first seven starts for L.A. in 2026, Yamamoto has gone 3-2 with a 3.09 ERA (3.53 FIP) and 1.01 WHIP with 40 strikeouts and just 10 walks in 43 2/3 innings pitched. The 27-year-old Japanese native held the struggling Houston Astros to three earned runs in six innings while walking one and striking out a season-high eight in his last time out on May 4. Yamamoto has yet to allow more than three earned runs in any of his outings this season while going at least five innings in all seven of his starts. Fantasy managers need to continue to throw him out there in their starting lineups every time he toes the rubber. Yamamoto has another great matchup on tap for Tuesday in L.A. against the visiting San Francisco Giants, who have the second-worst team OPS (.655) in the big leagues. In his first meeting with the Giants on April 21, Yamamoto allowed three earned runs on six hits while walking two and fanning seven in seven innings.

Across his first 32 2/3 innings (five starts) of 2026, Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto owns a 2-2 record with a 2.48 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and 28 strikeouts. While Yamamoto has been his usual dominant self in terms of run prevention, his strikeout rate is down from 29.4% in 2025 to 22.8% in 2026. The 27-year-old reached 211 innings pitched during the Dodgers' run to the World Series in 2025, so he may be making a concerted effort to pitch to contact and avoid deep counts in 2026. In addition to the lowered strikeout rate, Yamamoto's walk rate is also down to a career-best 4.1%. The star right-hander is one of MLB's craftiest pitchers and has a proven track record of getting outs that dates back to his time in Japan. However, his fantasy upside is lowered just a bit by his lack of strikeouts. Yamamoto remains a high-level fantasy starter, but managers will want to monitor his strikeout rate trends over the course of the year.

Across his first 18 innings (three starts) in 2026, Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto has recorded a 2-1 record with a 2.50 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts. The 27-year-old has allowed just two walks on the season, and his overall line remains excellent. However, Yamamoto is not generating his usual level of swing-and-miss so far, as his 20.9% strikeout rate is down from the 29.4% rate he posted in 2025. Yamamoto threw 211 innings between the regular season and postseason in 2025, so his ability to sustain high-level production coming off a significant workload will be something for fantasy managers to monitor throughout this year. Still, Yamamoto's average fastball velocity early in the year is 95.8 mph, right in line with where he's been over his first two MLB seasons. He remains an elite starting pitcher option for fantasy managers in 2026.

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto will remain with Team Japan as long as they are still alive in the World Baseball Classic, according to Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register. Yoshinobu is not scheduled to pitch again in the WBC after the quarterfinals this Saturday versus Venezuela. In his first outing for Japan, last year's World Series MVP threw 2 2/3 shutout innings to earn the win in the group stage against Chinese Taipei. Before leaving spring training for the WBC, he had allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits (one homer) while walking none and fanning seven in 4 2/3 innings in two Cactus League starts. Yamamoto was a first-time All-Star in 2025, going 12-8 with a 2.49 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 201 strikeouts, and 59 walks in 173 2/3 innings over 30 regular-season starts. He kept it going in the postseason and was downright dominant to win a second World Series ring in as many years with L.A. The Japanese hurler is ranked as the No. 5 fantasy starting pitcher at RotoBaller.

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto is scheduled to take the mound versus the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday. This is likely going to be his only start before he joins Team Japan for the World Baseball Classic. Yamamoto probably won't pitch long during Saturday's game, but at least fans will get to see him face a few batters. The 27-year-old is coming off a fantastic 2025 campaign with the Dodgers. He posted a 2.49 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and a 201/59 K/BB ratio across 30 starts with the Dodgers last season. Yamamoto is a top-five fantasy starting pitcher heading into the 2026 campaign.

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto was one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball in 2025 in his second season in MLB, and he was one of the biggest reasons why the Dodgers were able to end the year as back-to-back World Series champions. The 27-year-old Japanese hurler threw a complete game against the Blue Jays in the World Series and was named MVP of the series. He finished the regular season with a 12-8 record, 2.49 ERA (2.94 FIP), 0.99 WHIP, and 201:59 K:BB in 30 starts over 173 2/3 innings pitched. Yamamoto nearly doubled the workload from his rookie season in the 2025 regular season alone, not to mention the additional work he endured in the postseason. Still, Yamamoto is easily a top-10 fantasy baseball starting pitcher for the best team in baseball. His split-finger, in particular, is a big reason he has almost a 30% strikeout rate in his first two years in L.A.

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto was named the 2025 World Series MVP on Saturday night after the Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in 11 innings at the Rogers Centre to win back-to-back championships. After going six innings for his second win of the World Series on Friday night in Game 6, Yamamoto tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief on zero days of rest on Saturday to cap off an amazing performance in the Fall Classic. In his first start of the series, Yamamoto threw a complete game, his second straight of the postseason. The 27-year-old Japanese hurler threw 17 2/3 innings over three appearances in a week to win MVP honors for the Blue. He went 3-0 against Toronto with a 1.02 ERA and became just the 14th pitcher in history to record three wins in a single World Series, and the first since Randy Johnson did it for the Diamondbacks in 2001.

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto has volunteered to pitch out of the bullpen in Game 7 of the World Series on Saturday night. The 27-year-old is ready to go after throwing nearly 100 pitches during his start on Friday. He reportedly played catch on Saturday and is available if needed out of the bullpen. If he does pitch, Yamamoto is likely on a short leash considering he pitched deep into Friday's game. It appears it'll be an all hands-on-deck type of situation for Game 7 against the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that left-hander Blake Snell and right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start the first two games of the World Series, respectively, on Friday and Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Both Snell and Yamamoto have been lights-out on the mound for the Dodgers in the postseason as the Dodgers head into their second straight Fall Classic appearance. Snell has given up just two earned runs with five walks and 28 strikeouts in three wins over the Reds, Phillies, and Brewers in 21 innings. He also tossed five shutout innings with 10 K's in a win over Toronto on Aug. 9 during the regular season. Yamamoto has given up six runs (four earned) with four walks and 18 K's in 19 2/3 frames over his three postseason starts this October. The Japanese hurler did not face the Blue Jays during regular-season action in 2025.

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Tuesday in Milwaukee against the Brewers, according to manager Dave Roberts. Left-hander Blake Snell is getting the nod for Game 1 on Monday. Roberts said that two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani will "pitch at some point" in the series, but it's unclear when that might be. In his two starts so far in the postseason against the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies, Yamamoto has allowed three earned runs on 10 hits while walking three and striking out 11 in 10 2/3 innings pitched. He will be hoping he can be a lot better on Tuesday than when he faced the Brewers back on July 7, allowing five runs (three earned) and three hits before being pulled in just two-thirds of an inning. Yamamoto should be able to improve on that outing, but it won't be an easy task.