Yoshinobu Yamamoto was named to the National League All-Star Team for the second consecutive season, but it’s unclear if the Los Angeles Dodgers’ starter will be available to pitch in the exhibition.
Yamamoto is in line to make one more start on Saturday, July 11, before the 2026 MLB All-Star Game is played on Tuesday, July 14.
That would give the right-hander just two days of rest if he pitched in the game. Yamamoto could theoretically handle it as he would make just a short appearance at Citizens Bank Park, and the outing would essentially replace a bullpen session or normal throw day.
However, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is undecided whether Yamamoto will pitch in the All-Star Game, and the decision could hinge on how much the ace has a desire to participate in the annual event.
“I think for me it’s a read-and-react. Let’s just get him through his start, and then we’ll see how he feels,” Roberts said. “And also, it’s kind of if he really wants it, and if it makes sense, I think we’ll have that conversation.”
Roberts is set to manage the NL team for the second straight year after winning another World Series title, so he could bring Yamamoto in to record one out and finish off an inning.
If the Dodgers decided not to have Yamamoto pitch, that could potentially open the door for Justin Wrobleski to get his well-deserved spot on the roster.
However, many deserving candidates in the NL have been left off, including Zack Wheeler, Kyle Harrison and Foster Griffin, so Wrobleski may not be the next pitcher on MLB’s radar.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s All-Star half
Yamamoto has gone 8-5 with a 2.67 ERA, 3.41 FIP and 0.89 WHIP across 97.2 innings while striking out 24.1% of hitters and walking just 5.1% so far this season.
He recently joined Greg Maddux as the only MLB pitchers over the last 50 years to retire their final 20 batters on three separate occasions.
When Yamamoto nearly had a perfect game against the Chicago White Sox, he became the first pitcher in MLB history to retire the final 22 hitters in his last outing, and then the first 22 batters of his next start.
Yamamoto’s streak wound up reaching 45 consecutive batters retired, which tied Mark Buehrle (from 2009) for the second-longest stretch in MLB history. The MLB record for most batters retired in a row is 46, held by Yusmeiro Petit when he accomplished the feat in 2014.
In addition, Yamamoto joined Jake Arrieta as the only pitchers to record 12 consecutive quality starts on the road while allowing 46 or fewer hits since earned runs became an official stat in 1913.
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