Yoshinobu Yamamoto Named Dodgers Opening Day Starter for 2026

In a move that solidifies his status as the team’s ace, Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been named the opening day starter for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Manager Dave Roberts announced on Monday that the right-hander will take the mound against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, March 26. This marks a continuation of Yamamoto’s remarkable journey, as he threw the final pitch of the 2025 season and now prepares to kick off the 2026 campaign.

Yamamoto’s performance last season was nothing short of stellar. He was the only starting pitcher to remain active throughout the entire year, finishing third in the National League Cy Young voting. His impressive stats include a 2.49 ERA and a 2.74 xERA over 30 starts, tallying 201 strikeouts against 59 walks in 173 and two-thirds innings. However, it was his extraordinary postseason run that truly elevated his status, as he emerged as a key player in the Dodgers’ championship success.

During the playoffs, Yamamoto was dominant, posting a 5-1 record with a minuscule 1.45 ERA and recording 33 strikeouts while issuing only six walks in 37 and one-third innings. Notably, he pitched complete games in both Game 2 of the National League Championship Series and the World Series, becoming the first major league pitcher to achieve consecutive postseason complete games in 24 years. His six strong innings in Game 6 of the World Series helped secure the title, and he delivered the final eight outs in Game 7, earning World Series MVP honors for his pivotal role in the Dodgers’ second consecutive championship.

Yamamoto’s history with the Dodgers continues to grow, as he becomes the second pitcher in franchise history to record the final out of the World Series and then start on opening day the following year, joining the legendary Sandy Koufax from 1963-64. Last season, he also had the honor of starting and winning the Dodgers’ first game of the season in Tokyo against the Chicago Cubs. With this new assignment, he becomes the first Dodgers pitcher to start consecutive opening days since Clayton Kershaw did so from 2011 to 2018.

As the Dodgers gear up for their opener against the Diamondbacks, fans can look forward to the game starting at 5:30 p.m. It will be broadcast exclusively on NBC, with streaming available on Peacock.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.