Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto is set to make a second WBC start for Team Japan in the quarterfinals.
Yamamoto pitched Team Japan’s opening game against Chinese Taipei, which they won by a score of 13-0. He pitched just 2.2 innings in the outing, striking out two batters and walking three without allowing a run, and received a win decision.
Japan went on to win their remaining three games in the group stages, becoming the first team to finish pool play with an undefeated record this tournament. Their opponent for the next round hasn’t been decided yet, but they will be facing either the Dominican Republic or Venezuela as they have both secured their spots in the next round atop Pool D.
The tournament has a pitch limit for each round, meaning Yamamoto will not throw more than 80 pitches during his next start. The limit is 65 pitches in pool play, 80 in the quarterfinals and 95 in the semifinals and championship.
The right-hander is by far Team Japan’s best pitcher at the moment, and is one of MLB’s best arms as well. He posted a 2.49 ERA through 30 starts last season, striking out 201 batters through 173.2 innings pitched. His solid season continued into October, where he had one of the best postseason pitching performances of all time.
He allowed just six earned runs through 37.1 innings pitched, and made himself a World Series hero in the process. He made three appearances in the Fall Classic, throwing 17.2 innings and allowing just two runs. The Dodgers won each of the three games he featured in, and Yamamoto won World Series MVP.
Feb 27, 2026; Scottsdale, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) throws against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn ImagesHow Has Shohei Ohtani, Team Japan’s Other Dodger, Played in the WBC?
While Ohtani hasn’t been able to pitch for Team Japan, he has made plenty of difference with the bat through his three games this tournament.
The MVP sat out for the final game of pool play, as Team Japan had already progressed into the next round, but showed why he’s the world’s best in the prior games.
He batted .556 with five hits in nine at bats, and hit two home runs — including a grand slam. He has a 2.025 OPS through pool. play, ranking sixth in the tournament and the highest on his team by a wide margin.
If Ohtani and Yamamoto are playing their best, the rest of the teams left in the tournament could be in trouble heading into the knockout rounds.
Is Japan your favorite to win the WBC?
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