Yoshinobu Yamamoto etched his name in Los Angeles Dodgers postseason lore with one of the greatest performances ever seen in a World Series.
The right-hander posted a 1.02 ERA and 0.68 WHIP with 15 strikeouts against two walks in 17.2 innings across three appearances (two starts).
Yamamoto went the distance in Game 2 and then earned the win in two consecutive elimination matchups at Rogers Centre to help the Dodgers repeat as World Series champions.
Yamamoto has been one of the toughest pitchers to face since making the jump to MLB, and Roki Sasaki got to experience why when he attempted to hit against him on a Trajekt machine.
Roki Sasaki tried to hit against Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the Trajekt machine 😂 pic.twitter.com/mTnufWqpZJ
— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) November 4, 2025
The Trajekt Arc is an advanced pitching machine that mimics a pitcher’s arsenal. The Dodgers have used it at various points over the last two seasons for batting practice and game-planning against certain pitchers.
Yamamoto, who was named World Series MVP for his contributions against the Blue Jays, set several records along the way. He became the first pitcher in World Series history to win three games on the road, as well as the first pitcher to win Games 6 and 7 on the road.
Yamamoto also became the first pitcher in MLB history to allow no more than five hits, one run and one walk with at least five strikeouts while earning the win in three consecutive postseason starts.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto named Cy Young Award finalist
Yamamoto was named a finalist for the 2025 National League Cy Young Award, along with Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes and Cristopher Sánchez of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Yamamoto went 12-8 with a 2.49 ERA across 30 starts during the regular season. He is the Dodgers’ first Cy Young Award finalist since Julio Urías in 2022.
The 2025 Cy Young winners in both leagues will be announced live on MLB Network on Wednesday, Nov. 12, beginning at 4 p.m. PT.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
