ATLANTA — Despite grappling with a slew of injuries in their pitching roster, the Los Angeles Dodgers have found a formidable new ace in the form of right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto. In a striking performance that showcased his potential as one of baseball’s top starters, Yamamoto spearheaded the Dodgers to a 2-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night. Impressively, he took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before allowing Atlanta’s first hit.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was effusive in his praise of Yamamoto, suggesting this young pitcher is coming into his own as a leader in the rotation. “He’s turning himself into a staff ace,” commented Roberts following the game. Austin Riley stopped Yamamoto’s bid for a no-hitter with a two-out double in the sixth inning, marking Atlanta’s first hit. Nevertheless, Yamamoto’s outstanding performance saw him lower his ERA to a stellar 0.90 — the best in the major leagues. Across his six scoreless innings, he permitted just one hit, gave up two walks, and recorded six strikeouts.
Expressing confidence in his current form, Yamamoto stated through a translator that he feels he has rekindled the high level of performance he exhibited during his time in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league. “I think it feels very close to my top pitching,” he remarked.
While he admitted not dwelling on the possibility of throwing a no-hitter during the game, Roberts confessed that it did flash through his mind briefly. “He had no-hit stuff tonight,” said Roberts, attributing much of Yamamoto’s success to his commanding splitter and precise control.
Roberts further elaborated on the pitcher’s stunning form. “I thought tonight the splitter was fantastic,” he reflected. “His command was back to being who he is. The last game he wasn’t that sharp.” Even when Yamamoto showed slight vulnerabilities, like in their previous 3-0 loss to Pittsburgh on April 25 where he issued four walks, his overall performance remains notably impressive. Across his seven starts this season, Yamamoto has consistently outperformed, never allowing more than five hits or two earned runs in a game.
Emerging as a reliable ace could not have come at a more crucial time for the Dodgers, who are currently operating without three key starting pitchers due to injuries — Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Clayton Kershaw. Yamamoto is rapidly becoming an indispensable asset, allowing just four earned runs over 40 innings. This level of prowess has prompted Roberts to place him amongst the game’s elite starting pitchers. “You look at a handful of guys that when they take the mound, you know they’re going to go six innings and give you a chance to win the game,” said Roberts.
He further acknowledged the consistent excellence Yamamoto has brought to the team, “There’s been so much consistent production from Yoshi, it is real.”