Yoshinobu Yamamoto to start Dodgers' Opening Day after World Series heroics

Manager Dave Roberts named Yoshinobu Yamamoto the Los Angeles Dodgers' Opening Day starter for March 26; Yamamoto closed out the 2025 World Series and finished top three in National League Cy Young voting after a 2.49 ERA in 30 starts.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start the Los Angeles Dodgers' Opening Day on March 26, manager Dave Roberts announced. He threw the final outs to clinch the Dodgers' 2025 World Series title and was the series' most valuable player. Yamamoto posted a 2.49 ERA in 30 starts in 2025 and finished in the top three of National League Cy Young voting. He also made two appearances for Samurai Japan in the World Baseball Classic this spring and has spent most of camp away from the team. Key facts: - Yamamoto will start Opening Day for the Dodgers on March 26 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. - He became the World Series MVP after recording the final outs in the Dodgers' Game 7 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. - Yamamoto finished 2025 with a 2.49 ERA in 30 starts and placed among the top three in NL Cy Young voting. - He tossed consecutive complete games late in the season and then came back on no rest to record game-saving outs in the World Series clincher. - Yamamoto has appeared twice for Samurai Japan in the World Baseball Classic, allowing two runs in 6 2/3 innings. - He arrived in Los Angeles in 2024 as the recipient of the largest contract ever given to a pitcher, according to the report. Summary: The Dodgers will open the season with their reigning World Series MVP on the mound, a move that continues the team's reliance on Yamamoto after back-to-back championships. He is scheduled to start on March 26 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The article notes his 2025 achievements and that he has expressed a goal of winning a Cy Young award. Next competitive action for Yamamoto with the Dodgers is the scheduled Opening Day start.