After stifling the Reds with seven dominant innings, the Japanese ace proves that elite composure and mid-game adjustments are the true hallmarks of his Cy Young-caliber dominance.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto showed during his historic performance against the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2025 World Series that he can adjust and succeed under difficult circumstances.
The Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander demonstrated that ability again Tuesday night. After encountering immediate trouble, Yamamoto recovered and helped Los Angeles earn a 4-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
A dominant performance
Elite starting pitchers must solve problems during games, whether they are working on short rest or attempting to escape a difficult inning. Yamamoto managed the situation against Cincinnati without allowing his early command problems to control the rest of his start.
He walked each of the first two batters he faced before quickly settling into a rhythm. Elly De La Cruz later recorded a double in the third inning, but Yamamoto did not permit another baserunner during his seven innings.
Despite lacking his usual command early, the two-time All-Star completed another outstanding outing. Yamamoto allowed no runs and recorded seven strikeouts.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was not surprised that the Japanese star regained control. Roberts told SportsNet LA that Yamamoto possesses the ability to reset during an outing and execute the necessary pitch when he needs a double play, strikeout or pop-up.
The manager explained that those moments distinguish Yamamoto when his delivery or command is not completely synchronized.
Instead of allowing the difficulties to escalate, the right-hander can pause, regain his composure, navigate the inning and continue pitching.
“The thing I’ve learned about Yoshinobu is he’s able to reset on the fly; he’s able to bear down and make pitches when he needs to get a double play, a strikeout, a pop-up,” Robets said.
“Those are separators when you’re not totally locked in or in sync. You can still take a deep breath, reset and navigate an inning. And keep going.”
Yamamoto rarely allows one difficult sequence to become a complete collapse. Opposing teams might catch him struggling temporarily, but even Cincinnati’s early opportunity did not ultimately affect the outcome.
The 28-year-old improved to 14-8 with a 2.51 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in 179 innings over 27 starts. He is 5-2 with a 1.98 ERA and 0.79 WHIP in 68.1 innings across his last 10 starts.
Yamamoto’s mindset
Yamamoto’s capacity to remain composed when circumstances begin moving against him is unmatched. He does not require perfect command to compete because he can make adjustments without losing confidence in his arsenal.
His preparation also gives him multiple solutions during an at-bat. Yamamoto can alter his pitch selection, change a hitter’s eye level and create different movement patterns rather than repeatedly attacking the same area.
That adaptability becomes especially valuable in the postseason, when opponents study every tendency and small mistakes carry greater consequences. Yamamoto has already shown that pressure does not prevent him from executing.
He also possesses the concentration required to move past a walk or hard-hit ball immediately. His response against Cincinnati reflected maturity, emotional control and trust in his ability.
Yamamoto was not completely comfortable Tuesday, but he never appeared overwhelmed. That difference allowed him to turn a potentially difficult start into another dominant performance for the Dodgers.
