Dodgers News: Yoshinobu Yamamoto Says “The Feeling Is Better Than the Numbers”

Yoshinobu Yamamoto believes small pitching mistakes, not declining stuff, are behind his recent struggles after another tough outing against the Giants.

CHAVEZ RAVINE –– After another frustrating outing Tuesday night, Yoshinobu Yamamoto made it clear he believes the difference between success and failure right now is coming down to small mistakes — especially the pitches that left the yard.

Despite allowing three home runs and failing to finish the seventh inning, Yamamoto repeatedly emphasized that he actually felt better about the quality of his stuff compared to recent starts.

“Overall, I think there were a lot of good pitches today,” Yamamoto said through interpreter Hiro Sonoda. “The home run balls were mistakes left in spots where they could be hit.”

The Dodgers right-hander pointed to execution rather than overwhelming concern about his overall form. While his recent ERA has climbed above 5.00 over his last four starts, Yamamoto said the underlying feel for his pitches is improving.

“I think my feel is actually better than the numbers show,” Yamamoto said. “I clearly understand what’s going wrong. Today’s outing was really a very fine line.”

Yoshinobu Yamamoto Focuses on Early Inning Improvements

One of the bigger storylines entering the game had been Yamamoto’s struggles in the first inning this season. On Tuesday night, however, he navigated the opening frame efficiently while utilizing his full pitch mix.

Yamamoto admitted this issue had been a major focus during practice sessions.

“This year especially, I had been giving up runs early in games, so that was something I thought about a lot during practice,” he said. “Usually I may become too conscious of it, but today I just focused on taking the mound with confidence, and it worked well.”

Dodgers Pitcher Reflects on Home Run Problems

When asked about the rising home run rate overall this season, Yamamoto resisted the idea that there was one consistent pattern.

“Some home runs are simply good swings by hitters, and some are mistakes from me,” he explained. “There are different kinds of home runs.”

Still, Yamamoto acknowledged that Tuesday’s outing featured preventable mistakes, particularly against the bottom of the lineup. He specifically referenced home runs allowed to the No. 8 and No. 9 hitters, saying he could have changed the result with better attention to detail.

“If I had been a little more aware in those situations, maybe the outcome changes,” Yamamoto said. “I want to value the fundamentals of pitching even more.”

His frustration was especially evident after exiting in the seventh inning with runners on first and third.

“If I could have gotten through that situation, I think the flow of the game may have changed,” Yamamoto said. “So I’m very frustrated with the way I left the mound.”

Yoshinobu Yamamoto Reacts to Shohei Ohtani Home Run

The outing came on a night where Shohei Ohtani snapped his home run drought, a moment Yamamoto said energized the entire team.

“Everyone had quietly been waiting for that home run,” Yamamoto said. “The team really got excited when it happened.”

That made surrendering the lead even tougher.

“Once you have the lead, it’s your job to protect it,” Yamamoto said. “I wish I could have kept us ahead and continued inning by inning.”

Yamamoto Says He Feels Better Than the Numbers Show

Even with the rough results lately, Yamamoto said he does not view this stretch as comparable to the difficult period he endured last June. In his mind, the foundation is stronger now.

“The feeling is better than the numbers,” he said. “It’s very close.”

Yamamoto also dismissed the idea that last spring’s workload with Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic has impacted him physically this season.

“I’ve felt healthy overall,” Yamamoto said. “I just want to do everything I can to help the team win.”