Dodgers Announce Hiroki Kuroda's Critical Role in 2023 Season
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto will make his final start before Opening Day against the San Diego Padres Friday. Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start #Dodgers game Friday night — Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) March 17, 2026 Yamamoto returned to the Dodgers following Team Japan’s WBC quarterfinal elimination at the hands of Team Venezuela, and manager Dave Roberts said he would make another appearance before the regular season came. The right-hander has made four impressive appearances so far in 2026, two of which came with the Dodgers.
He threw 4. 2 innings across two games for the Dodgers before heading back to Japan for the WBC, allowing three earned runs and striking out seven batters. He started twice in the WBC, striking out seven batters through 6.
2 innings pitched and allowing two earned runs in the process. Yamamoto will be the Dodgers’ Opening Day starter , and if he manages to be as good as he was in 2025, he will play a huge part in LA’s title defense. The Dodgers also announced Shohei Ohtani will make his first competitive pitching appearance of 2026 on Wednesday.
He won’t be in the lineup for that game, but will pick up a bat for Friday’s game against the Padres. Mar 14, 2026; Miami, FL, United States; Japan starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) returns to the dugout against Venezuela in the first inning during a quarterfinal game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images How did Yoshinobu Yamamoto Pitch in 2025?
Yamamoto technically served as the Dodgers’ Opening Day pitcher in 2025, pitching in the first game of the Tokyo Series against the Chicago Cubs and in the second game following MLB’s official Opening Day against the Detroit Tigers. He allowed just a single run through five innings of work against the Cubs at the Tokyo Dome, and carried his momentum into the remainder of the season. He managed to stay healthy all season and put together a fantastic season, posting a 2.