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| Yoshinobu Yamamoto / Photo: Getty Images |
On March 17 (KST), the Dodgers said on their official social channels that Yamamoto is scheduled to start the 2026 season opener on March 27.
The assignment makes Yamamoto the club’s Opening Day starter for the second consecutive year, following his 2025 nod.
In last year’s opener against the Chicago Cubs, Yamamoto delivered five strong innings, allowing three hits, one run and recording four strikeouts to earn the win.
“It was an easy decision,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “He started on the road last year, so getting the home Opening Day will be a special experience.”
Yamamoto has established himself as the Dodgers’ ace. In his second major-league season, he appeared in 30 games, worked 173 2/3 innings, went 12-8 with a 2.49 ERA and finished third in National League Cy Young voting behind Paul Skenes (Pittsburgh) and Cristopher Sánchez (Philadelphia).
He was even more impressive in the postseason. Yamamoto threw complete-game, one-run victories in Game 2 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers and in Game 2 of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays — the first back-to-back postseason complete games since Curt Schilling of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001.
After a six-inning win in Game 6 of the World Series, Yamamoto returned the next day in relief during Game 7, tossing 2 2/3 innings to secure another victory and finish the Fall Classic with three wins.
Those performances earned him World Series Most Valuable Player honors.
Following the season, Yamamoto pitched for Japan in the World Baseball Classic, appearing in two games and allowing two runs over 6 2/3 innings with four hits and seven strikeouts.
[Sports Today reporter Kang Tae-gu sports@stoo.com]
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