Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start the 2025 Cactus League opener for the Los Angeles Dodgers as they face off against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, Feb. 20 at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona to begin their Spring Training schedule.
Yamamoto is looking to improve upon his impressive rookie season and was named as one of the Dodgers’ pitchers who will start in the Tokyo Series next month. With Opening Day in Japan one month away, getting Yamamoto started early in Cactus League action gives him more time to build up his arm.
“He’s going to throw a touch-and-feel today to get ready for tomorrow,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think like I’ve said all along, I think he’s ahead of where he was last year and I really look forward to him taking another step forward this season.”
In 2024, Yamamoto did not make his Cactus League debut until Feb. 28, which was the Dodgers seventh game on the schedule. He pitched two innings against the Texas Rangers during that start, allowing just one hit and striking out three.
After his impressive debut outing, he made two more Cactus League starts, but neither inspired much confidence as he allowed a total of nine runs over 7.2 innings combined on March 6 and March 13.
He followed that up with his first career regular season start against the San Diego Padres during the Seoul Series in South Korea, but he went just one inning and allowed five runs.
From there, Yamamoto bounced back in his second start and went on to throw 10 straight scoreless innings over his next two starts.
He finished his rookie season throwing just 90 innings as he was limited by a right shoulder injury, but he impressed overall with a 3.00 ERA and 2.61 FIP while striking out 10.50 batters per nine and walking just 2.20 per nine.
Shohei Ohtani not playing in Cactus League opener
Along with Yamamoto, the Dodgers lineup should consist of several regulars, but Shohei Ohtani won’t be among them. He is not expected to make his 2025 Spring Training debut until the end of February or beginning of March.
Ohtani recently revealed that he is still dealing with some discomfort from offseason surgery to repair a labrum tear in his left shoulder.
Still, Ohtani maintains he will be ready for the Tokyo Series.
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