Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) reacts in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, May 2, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) works against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 2, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) reacts after cathing a ball hit by Atlanta Braves’ Sean Murphy in the X inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 2, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) works against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 2, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto gestures after a double play ended the top of the third inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Friday, April 25, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stands in the dugout during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) reacts in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, May 2, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
ATLANTA (AP) 鈥 A Los Angeles Dodgers rotation filled with injuries has seen a new ace emerge in right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Yamamoto pitched like the leader of a rotation 鈥 and perhaps one of the game’s top starters 鈥 in the Dodgers’ over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night, taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning and giving up no runs.
鈥淗e’s turning himself into a staff ace,鈥 Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the game.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Austin Riley doubled with two outs in the sixth inning for Atlanta鈥檚 first hit off Yamamoto (4-2). The right-hander lowered his ERA to 0.90, the best mark in the major leagues. He left the game with a 2-0 lead after allowing one hit with two walks and six strikeouts in six scoreless innings.
Yamamoto confirmed he feels he is pitching at the same top form he showed in the Nippon Professional Baseball league in his native Japan.
鈥淵es, I’ve been able to be at a high level,鈥 Yamamoto said through a translator. 鈥淚 think it feels very close to my top pitching.鈥
Yamamoto said he wasn’t focused on the possibility of a no-hitter, but Roberts said it entered his thoughts 鈥渇or a quick minute.鈥
鈥淗e had no-hit stuff tonight,鈥 Roberts said, adding the right-hander’s control and mastery of his splitter set the foundation for his dominance.
鈥淚 thought tonight the splitter was fantastic,鈥 Roberts said. 鈥淗is command was back to being who he is. The last (game) he wasn’t that sharp.鈥
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
But even when giving up four walks in a to Pittsburgh on April 25, Yamamoto’s less impressive starts have still been above par. He has yet to allow more than five hits or two earned runs in any of his seven starts this season.
The emergence of Yamamoto as an ace is especially important as the Dodgers try to adjust to having three starting pitchers on the injured list. The staff is without Blake Snell (shoulder inflammation), Tyler Glasnow (shoulder inflammation) and Clayton Kershaw (recovery from toe and knee surgery).
Yamamoto has allowed only four earned runs in 40 innings. For Roberts, that places him among the game’s elite starting pitchers.
鈥淵ou look at a handful of guys that when they take the mound you know they’re going to go six innings and give you a chance to win the game,鈥 Roberts said.
鈥淭here’s been so much consistent production from Yoshi, it is real.鈥
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation