LA Dodgers name Yoshinobu Yamamoto MLB opening-day starter

MESA, Ariz. –– Last fall, Yoshinobu Yamamoto collected the final outs of the Dodgers’ World Series title defense.

Now, as the team embarks on a historic three-peat bid in 2026, the Japanese right-hander will be the first to return to the bump as the opening-day starter on March 26.

Manager Dave Roberts announced on Monday that Yamamoto will get the nod in the Dodgers’ regular-season opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks later this month. It marks the second consecutive season that Yamamoto receives the opening day honor, after pitching in the team’s Tokyo opener last March.

It also further cements his status as the ace of the team’s pitching staff, coming off a 2025 season in which he was a Cy Young Award finalist and World Series MVP.

Last year, Yamamoto was the Dodgers’ most effective pitcher during the regular season, leading the team in starts (30), wins (12–8 record), and ERA (2.49) while finishing third in Cy Young voting.

He was also their most clutch performer on either side of the ball in the playoffs, posting a 5–1 record and 1.45 ERA in a tour-de-force October that included two complete games and his World Series Game 7 heroics out of the bullpen on zero days’ rest.

That heavy workload hasn’t had any ill effects on Yamamoto’s ramp-up for the start of this season.

He bulked up his body over the offseason. He came into camp ahead of schedule in preparation for the World Baseball Classic. And in two starts with Team Japan, he pitched well, allowing just two runs over 6 ⅔ innings while striking out seven batters.

“Part of being a gamer, being a great competitor in big moments, is the preparation,” Roberts said earlier this week of Yamamoto, praising the unique training program that has helped him adapt to the majors and unlock the potential of his undersized 5-foot-10 frame. “When you prepare the right way, that eliminates a lot of doubt and fear. For me, that’s the core of who Yoshinobu is. That’s what we’re trying to get all of our guys to feel that same way.”

Yamamoto becomes the Dodgers’ first repeat opening day starter since Clayton Kershaw did it in eight consecutive seasons from 2011–2018. 

Last year, he pitched five innings in the team’s Tokyo season-opener against the Chicago Cubs, giving up one run on one hit and one walk while striking out four.

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