As the Dodgers continue to roll through the postseason, star pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto achieved something that hasn’t been done in over half a decade.
In a 5-1 win over the Brewers in Game 2 of the NLCS, Yamamoto pitched all nine innings, allowing three hits and striking out seven. Yamamoto finished the first complete game in the MLB postseason since 2017.
He had an exceptional season, finishing top-five in MLB with a 2.49 ERA and top-10 with a 0.99 WHIP. He added another chapter to his time in the majors with his best performance so far as the Dodgers took a 2-0 lead in the NLCS.
Here’s more on Yamamoto’s performance and the exclusive company he joined.
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Who was the last pitcher to throw a postseason complete game?
The last pitcher before Yamamoto to throw a postseason complete game (9 innings) was Justin Verlander of the Houston Astros in Game 2 of the 2017 ALCS.
The performance occurred on October 14, 2017, against the New York Yankees. Verlander pitched 9.0 innings, allowing only 5 hits and 1 earned run, while striking out 13 batters, leading the Astros to a 2-1 victory.
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Postseason complete game history
Here are the 25 most recent postseason complete games.
| Name | Date | Team | Opponent | Round | Score (W/L) |
| Yoshinobu Yamamoto | 10/14/2025 | Dodgers | Brewers | NLDS | W 2-0 |
| Justin Verlander | 10/14/2017 | Astros | Yankees | ALCS | W 8-1 |
| Marco Estrada | 10/14/2016 | Blue Jays | Guardians | ALCS | L 0-3 |
| Johnny Cueto | 10/07/2016 | Giants | Cubs | NLDS | L 1-0 |
| Madison Bumgarner | 10/05/2016 | Giants | Mets | NL Wild Card | W 3-0 |
| Johnny Cueto | 10/28/2015 | Royals | Mets | World Series | W 7-2 |
| Jake Arrieta | 10/07/2015 | Cubs | Pirates | NL Wild Card | W 4-0 |
| Madison Bumgarner | 10/26/2014 | Giants | Royals | World Series | W 3-2 |
| Madison Bumgarner | 10/01/2014 | Giants | Pirates | NL Wild Card | W 3-0 |
| Adam Wainwright | 10/09/2013 | Cardinals | Pirates | NLDS | W 6-1 |
| CC Sabathia | 10/12/2012 | Yankees | Orioles | ALDS | W 3-2 |
| Justin Verlander | 10/11/2012 | Tigers | Athletics | ALDS | W 3-1 |
| Chris Carpenter | 10/07/2011 | Cardinals | Phillies | NLDS | W 3-1 |
| Cliff Lee | 10/12/2010 | Rangers | Rays | ALDS | W 5-1 |
| Cole Hamels | 10/10/2010 | Phillies | Reds | NLDS | W 2-0 |
| Tim Lincecum | 10/07/2010 | Giants | Braves | NLDS | W 1-0 |
| Roy Halladay | 10/06/2010 | Phillies | Reds | NLDS | W 4-0 |
| Cliff Lee | 10/28/2009 | Phillies | Yankees | World Series | W 6-1 |
| Cliff Lee | 10/07/2009 | Phillies | Rockies | NLDS | W 5-1 |
| Josh Beckett | 10/03/2007 | Red Sox | Angels | ALDS | W 4-0 |
| Jose Contreras | 10/16/2005 | White Sox | Angels | ALCS | W 6-3 |
| Freddy Garcia | 10/15/2005 | White Sox | Angels | ALCS | W 5-2 |
| Jon Garland | 10/14/2005 | White Sox | Angels | ALCS | W 5-2 |
| Mark Buehrle | 10/12/2005 | White Sox | Angels | ALCS | W 2-1 |
| Jose Lima | 10/09/2004 | Dodgers | Cardinals | NLDS | W 4-1 |
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Yoshinobu Yamamoto stats vs Brewers
Against Milwaukee on Tuesday night, Yamamoto threw a complete nine innings, allowing only three hits hits and striking out seven. Jackson Chourio started Yamamoto’s night with a home run to open up the game, and the pitcher was near-perfect from then on.
This comes after a 2-1 victory in Game 1, where Dodgers starter Blake Snell threw 8.0 innings and allowed only one hit while striking out 10. Snell and Yamamoto each were brilliant as the Dodgers took a 2-0 series lead heading back to Los Angeles.
Los Angeles is two wins from a second consecutive World Series appearance.
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