Dodgers’ Japanese Starters to Make MLB History
The Los Angeles Dodgers will make MLB history this week, becoming the first team to play three Japanese starters in a row. Roki Sasaki will start the Dodgers’ series opener against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, followed by Shohei Ohtani’s first start of the season on Tuesday. Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start the third and final game of the series on Wednesday.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by LA Sports Report (@lasportsreport) The Dodgers have greatly increased the Japanese presence in their lineup since signing Ohtani to a 10-year deal a couple of offseason ago, bolstering their rotation with some of the best arms the NPB had to offer. Yamamoto joined the Dodgers shortly after Ohtani signed, inking a 12-year contract worth $325 million. Sasaki signed as an international free agent younger than 25-years-old, meaning he came to the Dodgers with six years of club control.
While Ohtani and Sasaki are still yet to make their first regular season start of 2026, Yamamoto is off to a great start and is already being put in the Cy Young conversation. He pitched six innings on Opening Day, allowing just two runs on five hits in a Dodgers win. Oct 27, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) celebrates with pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) after winning in the eighteenth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in game three of the 2025 MLB World Series at Dodger Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images Is Roki Sasaki Ready to Start in 2026? Questions surrounding Sasaki have arisen early in 2026, as he had a fairly rough spring ahead of his second year in MLB. He allowed 15 runs in 8.
2 innings pitched, along with 15 walks and nine hits. Despite his subpar numbers, the Dodgers have maintained faith in him and believe he’s the right fit for the rotation. “He’s done it on the biggest stage, in front of 50,000, so we know it’s in there,” general manager Brandon Gomes told the California Post .