Oct 25, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) throws a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the ninth inning during game two of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto Surprised Himself With World Series Performance

Originally posted on Los Angeles Dodgers on SI
By Patrick Warren | Last updated Oct 26, 2025 5:30 PM ET

After dropping Game 1 of the World Series to the Toronto Blue Jays, the Los Angeles Dodgers bounced back Saturday night to even the series — due much in part to the continued heroics of starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto

For the second time this postseason, Yamamoto pitched a complete game, striking out eight batters and allowing just one earned run in the Dodgers' 5-1 win.

Yamamoto allowed each of his four hits in the first three innings, during which he used 44 pitches to get through the first third of the game. After a shaky start to the game, Yamamoto surprised himself by his ability to stay in the game.

"To be honest, I was not thinking I can complete the game because my pitch count racked up kind of quickly. But I'm very happy I completed the game," Yamamoto said after the game.

Yamamoto is now the first pitcher with multiple complete games in one postseason since San Francisco's starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner did so in 2014. Unlike Bumgarner, Yamamoto's complete games were on back-to-back starts, something that hasn't been done since Curt Shilling's 2001 postseason.

"I'm very happy and proud of the fact that I was able to bring a big contribution and give a chance for the team to win," Yamamoto said.

Yamamoto's historic day started with him allowing a double to George Springer followed by a single to Nathan Lukes to put runners on first and third. While Yamamoto cleaned it up to escape the inning unscathed, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts grew concerned regarding his starting pitcher after his start to the game.

"After that first inning, I was thinking six. I felt he would find a way to get through six," Roberts said. "It's an aggressive swinging team. I thought the stuff was good, so I felt that he could manage to get through six. Then the pitch count kind of stayed where it needed to stay. And then for me, I just didn't see anything fall off as far as his delivery and the execution."

The Dodgers will return for Los Angeles for Game 3 against the Blue Jays on Monday at 5 p.m. PT. Tyler Glasnow will get the start, making his fourth appearance of the postseason.