Right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched like a million bucks for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of the World Series, just like they needed to bounce back from a blowout loss the day before and win the best-of-seven set.
Yamamoto actually pitched more than $375 million, roughly the commitment paid or owed by the Dodgers in fees and salary, in order to lure him away from the Orix Buffaloes of the Japanese Pacific League ahead of the 2024 season. Yamamoto’s Major League Baseball deal makes him, quite literally, the most expensive pitcher of all time.
The Dodgers have to be OK with making the expense, considering Yamamoto already helped them win the World Series in ’24, finished fourth in the majors in ERA last regular season, and has compiled an impressive record over eight career postseason appearances thus far.
No matter how one characterizes Yamamoto’s price tag, he was the driving force behind Los Angeles’ 5-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Center on Saturday night.
Eleven days after pitching a complete game to finish off the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series, he also played nearly identically against the Jays. Yamamoto threw four batters, walking none, hitting one batter (unlucky George Springer) and striking out eight. He retired his final 20 batters and finished having thrown 105 pitches, meaning Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had no excuse to take a look at his bullpen, let alone undo the deadbolt locks on the door.
His complete game was the first in the World Series since Kansas City Royals right-hander Johnny Cueto in 2015, and Yamamoto is the first individual since Curt Schilling 24 years ago to throw consecutive complete games in the postseason. Schilling did it in three straight games. If Yamamoto can match Schilling in this series, the Dodgers will likely be in for another championship parade. The Jays and Dodgers resume with Game 3 Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium.
The Blue Jays, making the World Series for the first time in 32 years, hoped to continue their batting dominance in Game 1 when they bombarded Dodgers pitchers for 11 runs. They put the first two batters on board in the bottom of the first against Yamamoto, kept counting against him and had him throw 23 pitches – but Toronto couldn’t score a single run.
“That was probably our best chance,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “After that, he made it difficult for us to get him to work.”
Yamamoto generated 17 swings and misses, with his most effective pitch probably being the curveball, among the six different types of pitches he threw.
Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman matched Yamamoto until the top of the seventh, when the Dodgers’ lineup hit the third time. Will Smith broke a 1-1 tie with a solo home run and, with two outs, Max Muncy went to the opposite end with another solo shot to make it 3-1.
The Dodgers added two more runs against Toronto’s bullpen to give Yamamoto more cushion than he might need. Yamamoto retired the team in the eighth before Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Alejandro Kirk and Daulton Varsho put the ball in play, but to no avail in the ninth.
Yamamoto wanted to make things right for the Dodgers after Toronto’s lineup dominated Game 1.
“It’s a big loss, and it goes without saying that today’s game we had to win,” Yamamoto said.
He might have surprised himself by finishing off the Jays, given his struggles in the first inning.
“To be honest, I didn’t think I could finish the match because my pitch count increased quite quickly,” Yamamoto said. “But I’m very happy to have finished the game.”
Performances like this shouldn’t surprise anyone anymore. Whether in MLB or NPB, Yamamoto has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to participate in the biggest games, regardless of the league, country or hemisphere.
He’s a man of the world, the most expensive pitcher in the world and, so far, he’s worth every minute of his contract.
