Yoshinobu Yamamoto Will Have a Pitch Limit on Opening Day
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto will have an 80-90 pitch limit on Opening Day . LA will play the Arizona Diamondbacks in their first game of the season. The Dodgers are likely playing things safe to begin the season, and don’t want to overexert their ace.
Yamamoto made three Cactus League appearances for the Dodgers in spring training, and peaked at 68 pitches. That’s not to say he didn’t have a good spring, though, as Yamamoto finished the preseason with a 2. 79 ERA through three appearances.
His most recent start came in an exhibition game against the San Diego Padres March 20, where he threw five scoreless innings and struck out seven batter on his way to a win. Yamamoto is coming off of a fantastic season with the Dodgers, where he posted a 2. 49 ERA through 30 starts in 2025.
He posted a 0. 99 WHIP last season, and reached the 200 strikeouts milestone for the first time in his career. His postseason was even more impressive, as he pitched 37 innings across six games and won World Series MVP after a heroic performance in the Fall Classic.
Feb 27, 2026; Scottsdale, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) throws against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images Who is playing for the Dodgers on Opening Day? Outside of Yamamoto, the Dodgers rolled out potentially their best lineup for their Opening Day matchup against the D-Backs.