Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s Rise in Cy Young Contention

As this week unfolds, Yoshinobu Yamamoto finds himself with the same number of wins as Jacob Misiorowski, marking an interesting matchup. They’ve both made the same number of starts, but Yamamoto has pitched more innings. The key stat that sets the two apart, at least in terms of the Cy Young Award race in the National League, is their ERA: Misiorowski boasts a striking 1.67, while Yamamoto’s stands at 2.78. Still, Yamamoto isn’t far behind the 24-year-old ace for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Many believe Yamamoto could surpass Misiorowski by season’s end, especially since the latter has been sidelined recently due to arm fatigue.

In an interesting development, Yamamoto could make history as the first Japanese pitcher to clinch the Cy Young Award. Unlike some competitors, he’s not dealing with any lingering pain and has demonstrated an ability to improve as the season goes on. The Los Angeles Dodgers are counting on him to be a steady presence in their rotation, especially during this tumultuous time when they are uncertain about when Shohei Ohtani will return to the mound or if catcher Will Smith will be available again.

They recently secured a series win at Yankee Stadium, affirming their faith in Yamamoto as a reliable player for the postseason.

This past Sunday, the Dodgers faced off against the Yankees in a doubleheader after a previous game was washed out by thunderstorms. With Ohtani unable to pitch against the Phillies, Emmett Sheehan’s start was pushed to Monday’s opener, which put added pressure on the bullpen. They had to manage a game two on Sunday, and Yamamoto was tasked with going as deep as possible into the first game.

And boy, did he deliver!

The Japanese right-hander was instrumental in the Dodgers’ 8-2 victory, notching his first complete game of the regular season. “That’s why he’s our ace,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, though Yamamoto was quick to downplay his achievement, stating, “When I go on the mound, I’m not thinking about doubleheaders. We approached it like a normal game.”

Despite his humble demeanor, he was fully aware of the context. Out of the four starting pitchers from the Dodgers’ previous postseason, he was the only one with major league experience as the other players were either recovering from injuries or suspensions.

Yamamoto used his cutters effectively and secured quick outs, allowing only a solo home run to Trent Grisham in the fourth inning. “I threw it where it was definitely going to get hit,” he reflected on that particular pitch. The Yankees didn’t manage to score again until the eighth inning, by which point the Dodgers were comfortably ahead.

Roberts was impressed with Yamamoto’s pitch count and believed he could finish out the seventh inning strong. Ultimately, Yamamoto completed the game on just 102 pitches.

Reflecting on his last start before the All-Star break, in which he struggled against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Yamamoto seemed more motivated. Roberts recalled that Yamamoto had pitched seven scoreless innings at Yankee Stadium during his rookie year in 2024, highlighting his affinity for big games.

Yamamoto expressed satisfaction in helping to conserve the bullpen, saying, “As a pitcher, I think it’s better to pitch nine innings than just to get a win.”

The Dodgers dropped the second game 2-1, but Yamamoto’s earlier performance helped keep them competitive. Manager Roberts emphasized the ripple effect of Yamamoto’s contributions, hinting at their significant value to the team as they approach the end of the season and look ahead to the playoffs.

With two and a half months left in the regular season, Yamamoto seems poised to continue proving himself, potentially making history along the way.