Dave Roberts Delivers Personal Yoshinobu Yamamoto Message After Dodgers Win
Dave Roberts has praised Yoshinobu Yamamoto after the Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher delivered another impressive performance in Sunday's 9-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Following the victory, Roberts said Yamamoto has developed into exactly the type of player the Dodgers envisioned when they brought him to Los Angeles, calling his growth and success difficult to script any better.
Yamamoto gave Roberts another reason to celebrate on his 54th birthday by improving to 5-4 on the season after holding the Phillies in check and helping the Dodgers secure a series victory. The 27-year-old entered the game with a 2.18 ERA, a 1.01 WHIP and 79 strikeouts in 74.1 innings. He has established himself as the anchor of the Dodgers' rotation and remains among the National League leaders in ERA.
According to The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya, Roberts said Yamamoto's rise has been remarkable, adding that it would be hard to write a better story for an athlete than the one the Japanese star is currently producing. The praise reflected both Sunday's outing and the consistency Yamamoto has shown throughout the season.
Dave Roberts on Yoshinobu Yamamoto: "You can't write out a person or an athlete any better."
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) May 31, 2026
Yamamoto had a strong start against Philadelphia and didn't allow a hit through the first three innings. In the second inning, Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh attempted to steal second base, but the right-hander reacted immediately and picked him off with a throw to Alex Freeland.
The Dodgers noticed another encouraging sign during the outing as Yamamoto threw harder than usual, with his four-seam fastball averaging roughly one mile per hour above its normal velocity. Despite the increase in speed, he continued to command the pitch effectively.
The fastball landed for strikes 76 percent of the time and helped him stay ahead of hitters throughout the afternoon. The performance added to what has already been an outstanding season for Yamamoto.
In his first 13 starts, Yamamoto has ranked among the most effective starters in baseball. His ability to limit baserunners and miss bats has made him one of the biggest reasons the Dodgers are near the top of the National League standings.
The Dodgers supported him with plenty of offense during the victory. Los Angeles scored nine runs and finished its homestand with a 5-1 record. The win also helped the club bounce back after its six-game winning streak ended the previous night.
Roberts also said the victory was a reflection of how well the Dodgers have played throughout the season. He felt the team responded well after the previous night's loss and showed resilience by quickly bouncing back against a tough opponent.
The manager also pointed to the club's depth as a major strength, noting that several regulars received time off while other players stepped into larger roles and performed effectively.
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This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 10:00 AM.