The Los Angeles Dodgers boast one of the most formidable pitching rotations in Major League Baseball, headlined by World Series hero Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Alongside Shohei Ohtani and a cast of impressive starters, the Dodgers' staff is a force to be reckoned with.
Yamamoto's place among the league's elite aces is intriguing. While he might not be in the top tier alongside Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal, he still commands significant respect. ESPN's Kiley McDaniel ranks Yamamoto fourth among MLB aces, trailing only Skenes, Skubal, and Garrett Crochet, yet ahead of Philadelphia Phillies' standout Cristopher Sanchez.
Why does Yamamoto edge out Sanchez? Age and potential play crucial roles.
At 27, Yamamoto is two years younger than Sanchez, and evaluators have more confidence in his medium-term prospects. Both pitchers have recently risen to prominence-Yamamoto making waves in Japan before joining MLB, and Sanchez transitioning to a starting role in 2023.
Last season, Sanchez delivered an impressive 2.50 ERA over 32 starts, racking up 212 strikeouts across 202 innings, with a WHIP of 1.064 and an 8.0 bWAR. Meanwhile, Yamamoto posted a 2.49 ERA in 30 starts, striking out 201 in 173.2 innings, boasting a 0.990 WHIP and a 4.9 bWAR. Both were among the league's best, with Sanchez finishing as the NL Cy Young runner-up to Skenes, and Yamamoto placing third.
Despite the close competition, Yamamoto's slightly younger age and potential give him the edge in the eyes of many evaluators. Both pitchers are comfortably within the second tier of aces, just behind the likes of Skubal and Skenes. Yet, Yamamoto's World Series heroics and future promise position him just ahead of Sanchez, the Phillies' exceptional lefty.