Dodgers Playoffs: Yoshinobu Yamamoto Learning From Clayton Kershaw

Yoshinobu Yamamoto has made eight postseason starts thus far with the Los Angeles Dodgers and just authored arguably his most impressive performance yet in Game 2 of the World Series.

Outside of a shaky start against the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Division Series, Yamamoto has been excellent this postseason. He threw complete game against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 2 of the NL Championship Series to give the Dodgers a 2-0 lead, and went nine innings against the Toronto Blue Jays as well.

In Milwaukee, itwas the Dodgers’ first complete game in the postseason since José Lima did so against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 3 of the 2004 NLDS. Yamamoto then became their first pitcher since Orel Hershiser in 1988 with at least two consecutive complete games in the postseason.

Yamamoto is no stranger to pitching in the playoffs from his time with Orix Buffaloes in Japan, including a championship victory in 2022.

But he has taken a couple of teachings from Clayton Kershaw and applied them during his postseason starts.

“One thing I learned from him, of course, is technical things when you face a hitter; how to think and how to attack them,” Yamamoto said through interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda. “And another thing is how to bring the energy into the one game.”

Yamamoto battled through a Major League learning curve and right shoulder injury last season to deliver much-needed innings as a starter in October. The right-hander stumbled initially with five earned runs through three innings in his first start, but only allowed three runs in 15.2 innings the rest of the way.

A second trip to the playoffs has been even better, with Yamamoto yielding a 1.57 ERA in 28 innings across four starts thus far. In a reversal of 2024, the Dodgers are relying on Yamamoto to carry them through as much of a start as possible rather than being a bridge to the bullpen.

Yamamoto’s next potential postseason start would come if the World Series reaches a Game 6 on Halloween.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s growth from rookie season

The 27-year-old emerged as the Dodgers ace this year after a solid rookie season filled with adversity.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts believes Yamamoto’s best qualities as a pitcher are his preparation and ability to rise to the occasion in big moments. Roberts also pointed to Yamamoto as the player who has shown the most growth from 2024 to this season.

“I’d probably say he’s number one on the growth chart, considering coming over here and trying to get his feet wet, trying to learn the culture, the game, the hitters, create a routine for himself, to then be a really big-game pitcher,” Roberts recently said.