The Los Angeles Dodgers will once again turn to Yoshinobu Yamamoto to begin a new season.
Manager Dave Roberts confirmed during spring training that Yamamoto will start the Dodgers’ 2026 Opening Day matchup against the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 26 at Dodger Stadium. The announcement marks the second consecutive season the right-hander has received the Opening Day assignment.
Yamamoto has quickly established himself as the centerpiece of the Dodgers’ rotation since arriving in Los Angeles. After signing a record-setting 12-year, $325 million contract, the Japanese ace has delivered consistent results both in the regular season and in the postseason.
The 27-year-old enters the 2026 campaign with a 19-10 record and a 2.66 ERA across 48 regular-season starts with the Dodgers. His dominance has extended into October as well. Yamamoto owns a 7-0 record with a 2.25 ERA in 10 postseason appearances, including nine starts.
His biggest moments came during last season’s World Series run. Yamamoto won both of his starts in the championship series and also played a role in closing out the title. In Game 7, he recorded the final outs of the season to secure the Dodgers’ championship.
That performance placed him among a rare group of pitchers in baseball history. Only three other pitchers have won both Game 6 and Game 7 of the same World Series: Randy Johnson in 2001, Harry Brecheen in 1946 and Ray Kremer in 1925.
The Dodgers also opened last season with Yamamoto on the mound. That game took place in Tokyo, where he allowed just one run over five innings in a win over the Chicago Cubs in front of fans in his home country.
Now he will once again take the ball for the defending back-to-back World Series champions as Los Angeles begins the 2026 season against Arizona.
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