Dodgers name Yoshinobu Yamamoto to start World Series Game 6
Two days after delivering a complete game on 105 pitches, Yoshinobu Yamamoto was handed the ball for Game 6 of the 2025 World Series, a pivotal decision that underscored Los Angeles’ reliance on a rookie-turned-ace. With the bullpen exhausted and a championship within reach, the Dodgers looked to Yamamoto’s steady delivery and high strikeout upside to keep their season alive.
Rising to the moment after a marathon performance
Yamamoto’s workload in the prior outing put his stamina under the microscope. Yet his performance in that complete game—marked by efficient sequencing and late punchouts—helped the Dodgers seize momentum in a series that has swung on every swing and miscue. Managerial strategy in the World Series often blends analytics with gut feeling, but in this case, the decision boiled down to trust in the young right-hander’s temperament and repertoire. Yamamoto’s fastball-command paired with a sharp breaking ball projected as a challenge to hit against a lineup that had already crunched a tall series total of innings.
What Game 6 means for the Dodgers’ rotation
Starting Yamamoto in Game 6 positions Los Angeles to set up a potential Game 7 with fresh bullpen arms if needed. It also signals a shift in the Dodgers’ longer-term plans, balancing the urgency of this fall run with the need to preserve arms for a deep playoff chase in subsequent seasons. A win in Game 6 would give the Dodgers a chance to clinch at home, where the atmosphere would be electric and the pressure intense for both squads.
Yamamoto’s scouting report vs this World Series opponent
Across the last season, Yamamoto has demonstrated a mix of precision and adaptability that has allowed him to navigate lineups that are familiar with his stuff. His fastball sits in the mid-90s with a late burst, and his secondary pitches have shown improved movement and depth against left- and right-handed hitters alike. The scouting reports suggest the Dodgers will lean on his ability to throw strikes early in the count, keep the ball on the ground when appropriate, and avoid elevating pitches in dangerous zones.
Pressure, poise, and the fan factor
The World Series stage is known for magnifying every decision. Yamamoto’s early career has already been defined by composure beyond his years, something that resonates with a clubhouse that has weathered injuries, slumps, and a grueling schedule. Dodgers fans, eager for a title, will be watching not just the results of each inning but the rhythm of Yamamoto’s delivery—the pace, the cadence, and the quiet confidence that seems to settle into him as the game progresses.
What a Game 6 win would unlock
A victory for the Dodgers would set up a dramatic Game 7 with all the marbles on the line. It would validate the front office’s decision to lean on Yamamoto in such a critical moment and would likely require a flexible bullpen plan that can respond to the inevitable adjustments from the opposing manager. For the Dodgers, the path to a championship would be paved by a combination of timely hitting, strong defense, and a pitching performance that can quiet a roaring World Series crowd.
Bottom line
As Yoshinobu Yamamoto toes the rubber for Game 6, the Dodgers are betting on his nerve and repertoire to keep hot bats in check and to fight through late-inning pressure. The outcome will shape the rest of the series and could define the arc of his MLB career as a cornerstone of Los Angeles’ championship ambitions.
