In Los Angeles, a unique and memorable moment unfolded for pitcher Ryan Yarbrough. Having once been part of the Los Angeles Dodgers during their successful World Series campaign last season, Yarbrough secured his commemorative World Series ring—a token of his earlier contributions—only to find himself leading the New York Yankees to a decisive victory against his former team.
Taking the mound as the Yankees’ starting pitcher, Yarbrough delivered an impressive performance, allowing only one run over six innings. His outing included a season-high five strikeouts and effectively shut down the Dodgers’ formidable top four batters in a 7-3 triumph on Sunday night. “I feel like I’m in a really good place right now and really trying to continue that,” Yarbrough shared. “I’m having a lot of fun.”
The 33-year-old southpaw had played in relief roles last season, splitting his time between the Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays. His journey saw a pivotal moment on July 29 when he was designated for assignment by the Dodgers, leading to his subsequent trade to Toronto. Despite not being present during the Dodgers’ championship run, Yarbrough was still awarded a World Series ring, presented by Dodgers’ general manager Brandon Gomes ahead of the Yankees’ series. “Trying to keep that a little discreet, especially with where we’re at now, but kind of cool to be able to get that,” he remarked.
Returning to the field with a renewed focus, Yarbrough, who joined the Yankees this March on a $2 million, one-year contract, boasts a 3-0 record accompanied by an impressive 2.83 ERA. Making his first start against his former club proved to be an outing to remember; Yarbrough elicited 17 swings-and-misses, including seven from his effective sweepers.
The Dodgers’ top hitters, Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernández, Freddie Freeman, and Will Smith, had previously delivered at least one hit per game this season. However, their combined 0-for-14 performance against Yarbrough was instrumental in the Yankees’ win. New York’s manager Aaron Boone praised Yarbrough’s style, describing him as a “throwback.” “He’s got a lot of ways to get you out. Just when you think he’s slowing you down, slowing you down, he’s able to speed you up enough,” Boone observed. “It feels like it’s hard to get a bead on him.”
The evening turned stern for Ohtani, who found himself striking out on an array of pitches ranging from 70-86 mph during their initial encounter. Yarbrough managed to navigate through the Dodgers’ lineup skillfully, setting down 13 out of the last 15 batters he faced before leaving the game. Teammate DJ LeMahieu added, “He’s not going to light up the radar gun, but all his pitches feel like they get on you,” highlighting Yarbrough’s strategic approach on the mound.
Yarbrough’s familiarity with his former squad certainly played to his advantage. “It was just a matter of execution and keeping them off balance and not putting them in counts where they can really hunt for certain pitches,” he explained.
Amid Yarbrough’s remarkable display, LeMahieu experienced a standout night himself, achieving his first four-hit game since 2021. With two RBIs and a notable performance of three singles and a double, LeMahieu lifted his batting average to .239, making him a key contributor in all aspects of the Yankees’ success. “I feel good. Good to get some results,” LeMahieu commented, on a night when Aaron Judge was the lone Yankees player to finish without a hit.