When the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Yoshinobu Yamamoto out of NPB, they did so knowing his mammoth price tag would draw quizzical glares from some of baseball’s loudest talking heads. Any signing is a risk. Surrendering hundreds of millions of dollars to land a player yet to throw a pitch in MLB? Well, that was fairly unprecedented.
Through two seasons, he’s been worth every penny.
During the regular season, Yamamoto has been one of MLB’s best pitchers, posting a 2.66 ERA across 48 starts.
But it’s in the postseason where the Dodgers ace really comes to life. Yamamoto has quickly established himself as one of MLB’s true big-game players. No time is that more apparent than in the playoffs.
Yamamoto conjured up wonderment while on the mound during the Dodgers’ 5-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 2 of the World Series, where he threw his second complete game of these playoffs. Here’s a look at how his recent postseason performances stack up in recent big-league history.
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Yoshinobu Yamamoto playoff stats
Yamamoto entered Saturday’s matchup posting a 1.83 ERA across 19.2 postseason innings in 2025. He added to his heroics on Saturday, tallying eight strikeouts and surrendering a measly one run across nine innings of work.
Yamamoto retired 12 straight batters during the contest, outshining opposite number Kevin Gausman as the match wore on. He employed a strong mix of darts, using his devastating four-seamer early and often against Toronto’s weary bats. His breaking balls — namely that world-class splitter — were also on hand as he coaxed weak contact from some of the AL’s best hitters.
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Yoshinobu Yamamoto best playoff moments
Yamamoto has enjoyed a fair few postseason highlights thus far. The Japanese supernova recorded one of the best postseason pitching displays in recent history against the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLCS, recording a three-hit complete game. With his offering, Yamamoto became the first pitcher to record a postseason complete game since Justin Verlander in 2017.
His latest showcase also figures to rank fairly highly in the annals of recent pitching lore. Yamamoto kept a Blue Jays lineup that erupted for nine runs in a single inning in Game 1 ghost-quiet on Saturday night. He’s the first pitcher to throw a complete game in the World Series to Johnny Cueto did so a decade ago.
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Where is Yoshinobu Yamamoto from?
Yamamoto hails from Bizen, Okayama, Japan. Prior to his time in the big leagues, he was one of Japan’s greatest-ever pitching talents, claiming three pitching triple crowns and three Pacific League MVP honors with NPB’s Orix Buffaloes.
Yamamoto is a star for club and country, having shined for Japan during its 2023 World Baseball Classic run. He also has an Olympic gold medal to his name, earning it after surrendering just two runs and striking out 18 in 11½ innings during the 2020 Tokyo Games.
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Yoshinobu Yamamoto contract details
- Years: 12
- Contract value: $325 million
Yamamoto inked the then-largest contract ever for a pitcher in Dec. 2023, agreeing terms to a 12-year, $325 million deal with the Dodgers after entertaining a number of offers from other big league sides. Los Angeles shelled out an additional $50 million to cover Yamamoto’s hulking posting fee.
The contract, which sees Yamamoto earn $27 million annually, features a pair of opt-outs, although the timing of the opt-outs are unclear. They’re related to his elbow health.
Last five pitchers to throw two complete games in a postseason
Yamamoto’s gem proved historic for several reasons. Chief among them was the fact that postseason complete games aren’t all that common. Here’s a look at the last five hurlers to toss complete games in the playoffs.
| Name | Date | Team | Opponent | Round | Score (W/L) |
| Yoshinobu Yamamoto | 10/25/2025 | Dodgers | Blue Jays | WS | W, 5-1 |
| 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 |
And here’s a look at the last five pitchers to toss complete games in the World Series.
| Name | Date | Team | Opponent | Score (W/L) |
| Yoshinobu Yamamoto | 10/25/2025 | Dodgers | Blue Jays | W, 5-1 |
| Johnny Cueto | 10/28/2025 | Royals | Mets | W, 7-2 |
| Madison Bumgarner | 10/26/2014 | Giants | Royals | W, 5-0 |
| Cliff Lee | 10/28/2009 | Phillies | Yankees | W, 6-1 |
| Josh Beckett | 10/25/2003 | Marlins | Yankees | W, 2-0 |
