LOS ANGELES, CA — The Los Angeles Dodgers will hand the ball to their ace, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, tonight as they look to close out the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies. And if his recent form is any indication, Dodgers fans have every reason to feel confident.
In his first full season with Los Angeles, Yamamoto has been everything the team could have hoped for when they signed him out of Japan. The right-hander enters tonight with a 12–8 record, 2.49 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 201 strikeouts over 173.2 innings. His mix of a lively four-seamer, devastating splitter, sharp curveball, and complementary secondary pitches has baffled hitters all year.
From the start of the season until now, he has anchored the Dodgers’ rotation and emerged as their clear No. 1 option in October.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto — last 6 starts:
40.2 IP
53 K
0.66 ERA
0.69 WHIPAbsolutely ELECTRIC from the Dodgers’ ace 💎 pic.twitter.com/hF6dxBh7ey
— SleeperDodgers (@SleeperDodgers) October 8, 2025
Six-Game Stretch of Brilliance
If Yamamoto’s season numbers are impressive, his last six starts have been downright historic. Over that span, he has delivered:
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40.2 innings pitched
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53 strikeouts
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0.66 ERA
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0.69 WHIP
That level of production is not only dominant — it’s nearly unhittable. In multiple outings during this stretch, he has pitched scoreless baseball, proving he’s peaking at exactly the right time.
17 gave a quality start and 9 K’s.
7 followed that up with 6 innings of 1-hit ball, along with 9 more K’s.
What do you got for me today, 18?pic.twitter.com/dciuaPxSMs
— Nate (@dodgernate) October 8, 2025
NLDS Game 3: Dodgers vs. Phillies
Tonight, Yamamoto takes the mound against Philadelphia in Game 3 of the NLDS, with Los Angeles leading the series 2–0. He’ll be opposed by Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola in what could be a decisive game for the Dodgers.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. A win tonight would punch Los Angeles’ ticket to the next round, and Yamamoto’s recent dominance gives them a major edge. The Phillies will rely on their sluggers — Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and Kyle Schwarber — to try to break through against a pitcher who has been virtually unhittable for the past month.
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Strikeout Stuff: Yamamoto’s splitter has been devastating, and he’ll look to keep Phillies hitters off balance by changing speeds and eye levels.
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Limiting Traffic: His WHIP under 1.00 speaks for itself. When he allows baserunners, he has been able to strand them without giving up big innings.
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October Moment: This is Yamamoto’s biggest MLB start to date. If he continues his electric run, the Dodgers could ride his arm into the next round of the postseason.
Yamamoto has been absolutely electric for the Dodgers, and tonight’s start provides the perfect stage for him to show why he has already earned the title of ace in just his first year in the majors.
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