Dodgers secure victory in rain-postponed match against Braves, thanks to another stellar performance by Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Jack Harris Follow
A Star is Born: Yoshinobu Yamamoto Nabs National League Pitcher of the Month Award
ATLANTA - In a tense pre-game ceremony, Yoshinobu Yamamoto was bestowed the National League's Pitcher of the Month award for the blistering month of spring. And given his commanding performance in the very game to follow against the Atlanta Braves, it might not be the last accolade he claims this season.
With a scoreless six-inning, six-strikeout, one-hit gem under his belt, Yamamoto hinted at a season filled with impressive outings. If his performance at the Dodgers' 2-1 win Friday at Truist Park is any indication, he might just be right.
Building upon his breakout performance in the opening month, Yamamoto aims for the summit of major-league starters. With a no-hitter carried into the sixth inning, an opponent shutout for the third time in his last four starts, and a razor-sharp early-season ERA of 0.90 (four earned runs in 40 innings), Yamamoto's promising start to the season has certainly not gone unnoticed.
"I've been able to perform at a very high level," Yamamoto shared after the game through interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda. "I think it's really close to my best times in Japan."
Yamamoto, the three-time Japanese League MVP, has already earned praise from manager Dave Roberts, who has referred to him as the ace of the Dodgers' pitching staff. But with Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow sidelined due to shoulder injuries, Yamamoto's value to the team may well outshine that title.
"When you look at the handful of guys in the big leagues that when they take the ball, you know they're going to go six innings, you're going to get a chance to win, a good chance to win, they can manage some stress, they're always the best option – he's putting himself in that category," Roberts said. "I think there's just been so much consistent performance from Yoshi in big games that it's real. He does think he's one of those guys."
Despite a season-worst outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates in his previous start, Yamamoto bounced back with a dominating performance against the resurgent Braves, renowned for their recent 9-12 win streak.
Indeed, the Braves' hitters stood no chance against Yamamoto's pitching prowess in the early innings, with Matt Olson and Sean Murphy narrowly missing him with line drives and comebackers. But despite the close calls, the Atlanta right-hander, Grant Holmes, was the one who failed to escape unscathed when Betts smacked a 94-mph comebacker off his backside for the night's first hit, followed by singles from Freeman and Hernández, and a sac fly from Smith to open the scoring.
As the game progressed, Betts continued his resurgence from a dismal April by socking a solo home run to left field in the sixth inning, finally breaking Holmes' shutout streak. Nevertheless, Yamamoto's pitching dominance shone through, as the Braves managed a mere double by Austin Riley in the sixth until a leadoff homer by Olson in the seventh, narrowing the Dodgers' lead to 2-1.
With a rain delay wrapping up the eighth inning, the Dodgers managed to hold on to their slim lead, closing the game with Tanner Scott and Evan Phillips. The victory marked Yamamoto's fourth of the year and a vital improvement to the team's overall record.
"Just executing all of his pitches. Just making it really hard on the hitters," Smith praised of Yamamoto's incredible performance. "Right now, he's pitching like the best pitcher in the world. We're just fortunate to have him."
Beyond the Stat Sheet
Yoshinobu Yamamoto missed the 2022 MLB season, opting to remain with the Orix Buffaloes in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). In 2022, Yamamoto compiled a 15-5 win-loss record, a 1.68 ERA, and 205 strikeouts in 193 innings pitched across 26 starts. He snagged his second consecutive Eiji Sawamura Award and achieved a pitching Triple Crown[2][4]. He later joined the Dodgers in 2024 following the posting system for NPB players, and his exceptional debut season in the MLB resulted in a 3.00 ERA with 105 strikeouts in 90 innings for the Dodgers[1].
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto, hailing from Los Angeles, California, continues to dominate in the MLB, playing for the Dodgers, the famed baseball team based in his home state.
- As the Dodgers took on the Atlanta Braves, it was Yamamoto who shone brightly on the field, pitching a scoreless six-inning game, striking out six, and allowing only one hit, reminiscent of the caliber of play in the prestigious Major League Baseball.
- In the realm of sports, Yamamoto's stellar performance in baseball, particularly with the Dodgers, has catapulted him into the conversation of top-tier pitchers, not just within the National League, but across all of Major League Baseball.
