The Los Angeles Dodgers have Shohei Ohtani, a two-way superstar who throws 100 mph and hits home runs like they’re going out of style. But when manager Dave Roberts talks about his ace, he doesn’t point to Ohtani. He points to Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
And on Sunday, Yamamoto made sure Roberts looked smart for saying it.
Yamamoto threw the first complete game of his MLB career in an 8-2 win over the New York Yankees. He gave up four hits, walked nobody, and struck out seven over 102 pitches. It was the kind of performance that makes a $325 million contract feel like a bargain. At least for one afternoon.
“For Yoshi to come back and do what he did and to perform the way he did,” Roberts told reporters, via Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times, “that’s why he’s our ace.”
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Through his first two MLB seasons, Yamamoto has a 2.70 ERA across 66 appearances with 419 strikeouts against 106 walks. This season alone he’s at 2.78 with a 113-25 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He leads the Dodgers in strikeouts and ranks second among qualified starters in ERA.
Not bad for a guy who arrived from Japan with all the pressure of a nine-figure contract and the expectations of a fanbase that demands World Series titles.
Roberts’ take isn’t just loyalty talking. Yamamoto has been the most consistent arm in the rotation. Ohtani is still working back from elbow surgery and hasn’t pitched this season. Tyler Glasnow is on the injured list again. Clayton Kershaw is rehabbing. The Dodgers have depth but they also have question marks, and Yamamoto has been the anchor.
What Comes Next
Los Angeles has been linked to trade rumors around Detroit’s Tarik Skubal, the kind of move that would make the rotation even scarier come October. More pitchers are expected to return from injury later in the year. But none of that changes what Roberts sees right now.
Yamamoto is the guy. The guy who throws strikes, eats innings, and doesn’t flinch in big moments. The complete game against the Yankees wasn’t a surprise to anyone who’s been paying attention. It was more like a reminder.
If he keeps pitching like this, Roberts won’t have to explain his choice very often. The results will do the talking for him.
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