Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 of the 2026 National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday. The right-hander faces one of the National League’s top pitchers, Chris Sale, but insists his focus is on his own performance rather than the matchup.
“Obviously he’s one of the best pitchers,” Yamamoto said, “but I just want to focus on my own job.”
Yamamoto’s presence on the mound comes after a postseason last year that established him as a workhorse for the Dodgers. He started five games and made one relief appearance, pitching 37.1 innings across the playoffs. His performances included two consecutive complete games against the Milwaukee Brewers and Toronto Blue Jays, and he closed out the World Series with a 2.2-inning stint in Game 7. That effort earned him the World Series MVP award.
Through those innings, Yamamoto maintained a 0.78 WHIP and recorded 33 strikeouts, standing out as the Dodgers’ most consistent pitcher in the postseason.
This year, the Dodgers have a stronger pitching staff, which should allow them to manage Yamamoto’s workload more carefully. He acknowledged the possibility of heavy usage again if circumstances demand it.
“I’m going to get myself ready for any situation,” he said. “If they want me to go out, then I’ll go out. The key things for me this postseason is focusing on the game in front of me.”
The Dodgers open Game 3 at 3:00 p.m. PT, seeking to regain the series lead after splitting the first two games against Atlanta.
Yamamoto’s approach to facing Sale, a pitcher known for his power and experience, is to stay within himself. Their duel will be a key moment in the series, but Yamamoto kept his attention on his own preparation and execution.
The Dodgers’ decision to start Yamamoto in this game underlines their confidence in him to deliver under pressure. After a postseason that saw him shoulder an extraordinary pitching load, he remains ready to adapt to whatever the Dodgers require.
Tuesday’s start will be Yamamoto’s first appearance of the 2026 postseason, with the Dodgers hoping for a strong outing to shift momentum in their favour.
According to Yahoo Sports.