The Los Angeles Dodgers are gearing up for Opening Day with a strategic approach, as manager Dave Roberts announced that ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto will be on an 80-90 pitch limit. As they face off against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Dodgers are taking a cautious route to ensure their star pitcher remains in top form throughout the season.
Yamamoto, coming off a stellar spring training, showed his prowess with a 2.79 ERA over three appearances, peaking at 68 pitches. His final preseason outing was a gem, delivering five scoreless innings and striking out seven against the San Diego Padres on March 20.
Last season, Yamamoto was nothing short of spectacular, boasting a 2.49 ERA across 30 starts with a 0.99 WHIP. He also hit a career milestone with 200 strikeouts. His postseason heroics earned him the World Series MVP, as he pitched 37 innings over six games, leading the Dodgers to glory.
As for the lineup, the Dodgers are pulling no punches. Reigning MVP Shohei Ohtani is set to lead off as the designated hitter, followed by new acquisition Kyle Tucker and the ever-reliable Mookie Betts. Freddie Freeman will anchor the cleanup spot, with seasoned talents like catcher Will Smith, third baseman Max Muncy, and left fielder Teoscar Hernandez rounding out the middle order.
Youngster Andy Pages aims to bounce back from a challenging end to 2025, batting eighth, while Miguel Rojas takes on second base duties, batting ninth.
With the Dodgers eyeing a third consecutive World Series title, they’re looking to kick off the season on a high note against their division rivals. All eyes will be on Yamamoto, as even with a pitch count, he's expected to set the tone for another championship run.