Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto to Rejoin Team After Japan's WBC Quarterfinal

The Japanese pitcher will make one more appearance for his national team before returning to Dodgers spring training.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 10:53pm

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Los Angeles Dodgers star pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto will take the mound one more time for Team Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic quarterfinal against Venezuela on Saturday. After that game, Yamamoto will travel back to the United States to rejoin the Dodgers for the start of their World Series defense.

Why it matters

Yamamoto is a key part of both the Dodgers' and Japan's pitching rotations, so his performance and availability for the WBC quarterfinal is important for both teams. The Dodgers are looking to repeat as World Series champions, while Japan is the defending WBC titleholder.

The details

Yamamoto pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless ball for Japan in their 13-0 win over Chinese Taipei in the WBC pool play. He was also part of Japan's 2023 WBC championship team. Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata said the focus is solely on the quarterfinal matchup against Venezuela, and they have not decided on a starter beyond Yamamoto.

  • Yamamoto will start Japan's quarterfinal game against Venezuela on Saturday, March 16, 2026.
  • The Dodgers are scheduled to start their World Series defense on March 26, 2026 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The players

Yoshinobu Yamamoto

A star pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers who is currently playing for Team Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Hirokazu Ibata

The manager of the Japanese national baseball team competing in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Dave Roberts

The manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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What they’re saying

“Yamamoto is the starter. We haven't decided anything beyond that. Since this is a game where losing means elimination, we need to pour everything we have into the next match.”

— Hirokazu Ibata, Japan National Team Manager

“Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start Japan's quarterfinal game against Venezuela and then will travel back to Phoenix to rejoin the Dodgers, manager Dave Roberts said.”

— Dave Roberts, Los Angeles Dodgers Manager

What’s next

The winner of the quarterfinal matchup between Japan and Venezuela will advance to the semifinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

The takeaway

Yamamoto's performance in the WBC quarterfinal will be crucial for both Japan's title defense and the Dodgers' quest to repeat as World Series champions. His ability to balance his commitments to both teams will be key as the Dodgers look to build on their 2025 championship season.