Yoshinobu Yamamoto to Start for Dodgers on Opening Day Against Diamondbacks

In a fitting continuation of his impressive performance, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the World Series MVP, will take the mound as the Dodgers’ opening-day starter. Manager Dave Roberts confirmed on Monday that Yamamoto will lead the team against the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 26 at Dodger Stadium. This marks the second consecutive year he has earned this honor and his first time starting at home, having pitched last season’s opener in Tokyo against the Chicago Cubs.

Roberts noted that Yamamoto is expected to return to Camelback Ranch shortly, following his participation in the World Baseball Classic with Team Japan. Unfortunately, the Samurai Warriors were eliminated by Team Venezuela in the quarterfinals on Saturday night, ending their quest for a second consecutive WBC title. Before opening day, Yamamoto is slated to make one more start in the Cactus League, although the specific date remains unconfirmed.

Meanwhile, Shohei Ohtani rejoined Dodgers camp on Monday morning. Roberts plans to discuss Ohtani’s throwing regimen as the regular season approaches. Ohtani recently threw four innings in a simulated game while with Team Japan last Thursday. “He’s going to get here and throw a bullpen,” Roberts mentioned. He is keen to determine when Ohtani can participate in a game, anticipating it could be within the next couple of days. While Ohtani has yet to pitch in a Cactus League game or during the WBC, Roberts is optimistic about his progression compared to a year ago, when Ohtani was recovering from Tommy John surgery.

“I think this year we’re certainly north of that,” Roberts said, expressing confidence that Ohtani could reach three or four innings in a major league game, a significant improvement over last year. “That’s certainly a better jumping-off point than last year, so we’ll see how it goes.”

Beyond Yamamoto and Ohtani, the back end of the Dodgers’ rotation is still in flux. While Roberts had previously considered a six-man rotation, he indicated on Monday that the team is likely to start the regular season with a five-man setup. The competition for the final rotation spot remains heated, particularly with 25-year-old Justin Wrobleski, 26-year-old Emmet Sheehan, and 27-year-old River Ryan all in the running.

Last week, Roberts expressed strong confidence in Roki Sasaki, stating, “I didn’t see a world in which Roki Sasaki doesn’t break [camp] as a starter.” Sasaki is scheduled to make a Cactus League start against the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night. He recently showcased his talents by striking out nine of the 13 batters he faced in a B-game against Chicago White Sox minor leaguers.

Reflecting on Sasaki’s performance, Roberts said, “The last outing was really good, albeit on the other side. I’m looking to see it myself and see just more of what he did.” He expressed hope that Sasaki could manage five innings, which would be a significant achievement.

In another update, Gavin Stone has yet to resume throwing since being shut down two weeks ago. However, Roberts provided a positive update on the 27-year-old pitcher, who is recovering from shoulder surgery that sidelined him for all of 2025. “He is pain-free now, yes,” Roberts confirmed, adding that Stone is close to starting his throwing program again. “I think we dodged a bullet, considering where we were at a few weeks ago.”

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