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The Los Angeles Dodgers expect starters Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto to make one more pitching appearance before the end of camp.
Ohtani and Yamamoto both played for Team Japan in the WBC, and will rejoin the team following their elimination at the hands of Team Venezuela. Ohtani is still yet to make a pitching appearance this preseason, while Yamamoto has pitched twice for the Dodgers and twice for Team Japan.
“Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Edwin Diaz are all expected to rejoin Dodgers camp after their teams were eliminated from the World Baseball Classic,” the Orange County Register’s Bill Plunkett wrote. “Ohtani and Yamamoto are likely to pitch in games before the Dodgers break camp on Saturday, but their schedules have not been determined yet.”
Manager Dave Roberts contradicted the report Monday morning, though, saying a Cactus League pitching return for Ohtani isn’t certain. He did, however, say he is expected to start the season with three to four inning outings.
The Dodgers also announced Yamamoto as their Opening Day starter, marking the second consecutive year in which he has filled that role.
Throughout his four appearances in 2026, Yamamoto has allowed five runs through 11.1 innings pitched while striking out 14 batters. He cemented himself as the Dodgers’ best pitcher in 2025, posting a Cy Young-caliber season with a 2.49 ERA through 30 starts.
He also had a historic postseason, with just a 1.45 ERA through 37.1 innings pitched as he won the World Series MVP.
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Nov 3, 2025; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) during the World Series championship parade and celebration. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
How Did Shohei Ohtani Perform on the Mound in 2025?
Ohtani made his first appearance as a pitcher for the Dodgers in 2025, and impressed throughout the season after a slow start.
His pitching debut for LA came June 16 against the San Diego Padres, where he threw just one inning and allowed a run. He continued extending his outings until the end of the season, where he managed to reach six innings.
Over the course of 14 starts, Ohtani had a 2.87 ERA through 47 innings and struck out 62 batters. If he can get off to a healthy start in 2026 and put together a healthy season while performing at the level he did last year, he could be in the running for his first Cy Young award.
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