Time to give Yoshinobu Yamamoto the support he deserves

Apr 14, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) gets set on the mound in the fourth inning against the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images While Tyler Glasnow, Justin Wrobleski, Emmet Sheehan, and Shohei Ohtani combine for an 11-0 record, Yoshinobu Yamamoto sits at 2-2 heading into his sixth start of the season. The trend of Yamamoto not receiving adequate run support, particularly in contrast with the regular numbers that this offense puts up, was a major theme of his efforts last season.

Early on in 2026, the outlook feels eerily similar, with the Dodgers failing to score more than two runs in the majority of Yamamoto’s outings—he last pitched against the Giants at Oracle Park, taking the loss while covering seven innings of three-run ball as the offense went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position. This matchup versus the surprisingly solid Miami Marlins will provide the ideal opportunity for the Dodgers to break this sequence of underwhelming performances for their ace. That’s the case since they’ll face Chris Paddack, who has lost every single one of his four starts in 2026, allowing an outrageous 31 hits in 24 innings of work.

It’s too early to simply assume that this trend when Yamamoto is on the mound, will follow the same path as last season, especially when the offense has been as productive as it has up to this point—as a whole, the Dodgers have an OPS of . 828 entering this series against Miami. Now they must go out and prove it in about as favorable a matchup as you’re going to get this whole year.

Monday’s game info Teams: Dodgers vs. Marlins Ballpark: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles Start time: 7:10 p. m.