Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts compared NLCS Game 2 starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto to Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw.
Kershaw, who retired at the end of the 2025 season, was the Dodgers’ best pitcher for the majority of his career, winning three Cy Young awards, an MVP and three World Series. Yamamoto, over the last two years, has taken Kershaw’s spot as the Dodgers’ most reliable pitcher—especially in the postseason.
Ahead of Yamamoto’s second start of the postseason, Roberts expressed the similarities between Kershaw and his team’s current ace.
“Toughness, the work ethic, the culture piece of it, everything he does is for a purpose,” Roberts said. “So then when you take it into a game, that’s why he is so unflappable and continues to make pitches when he needs to.
“…I had Clayton Kershaw for 10 years, and no one did it like him until Yamamoto, in the sense of every single thing he does and what he takes to prepare for a day.”
Yamamoto is clearly dedicated to his craft, and the fruits of his hard work are paying dividends for the Dodgers—especially in the postseason.
How Has Yoshinobu Yamamoto Performed in the Postseason?
Yamamoto only pitched once for the Dodgers in the NLDS, but made the most of his sole appearance against the Atlanta Braves. He went seven innings, striking out 10 batters and allowing just one run—setting the Dodgers up for a series-clinching Game 4 the following day.
Even prior to this year, though, Yamamoto had put together quite the postseason resume.
Through 10 appearances in October, Yamamoto had a 2.25 ERA heading into 2026, winning World Series MVP in 2025 following a heroic performance in the Fall Classic. He had a 1.45 ERA through 37.1 innings last postseason, and made three appearances in the World Series—hurling a complete game in Game 1 followed by a strong performance in Game 6 and a relief appearance in Game 7 on less than a day of rest.
Yamamoto is a key part of the team in the postseason, and will look to continue helping his team as they look to win a third consecutive World Series. He will start Game 2 of the NLCS, in which the Dodgers aim to level their series against the Milwaukee Brewers. Game 2 begins Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. PT.
