Scouting Report: Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Los Angeles Dodgers | SP
Overall
Summary
Yoshinobu Yamamoto is experiencing a difficult stretch in 2026 after a strong 2025 season. Through 8 starts, he has a 3-3 record with a 3.60 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. His primary issue is an elevated home run rate (8 HRs in 50 innings vs. 14 HRs in 173.2 innings last year). He has allowed 3+ runs in each of his last 4 starts, a streak he never experienced in MLB before. However, recent outings show improvement: he pitched 6.1 scoreless innings after a first-inning home run against the Padres, and manager Dave Roberts noted the quality of his stuff is better than his results suggest. Yamamoto attributes struggles to execution and pitch placement rather than overall form, emphasizing that his feel for pitches is improving. Early-inning struggles have been a focus, though he showed improvement navigating the first inning cleanly in one recent start.
Strengths
- Strong strikeout rate (48 K in 50 innings)
- Excellent control (10 BB in 50 innings)
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