Dodgers to Make MLB History with Three Japanese Starters

Roki Sasaki, Shohei Ohtani, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto will take the mound in a historic series for the Los Angeles team.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 8:52pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting an abstracted baseball game between the Dodgers and Guardians, with the players and field broken down into dynamic, overlapping shapes and planes in a vibrant color palette.The Dodgers' historic three-game series against the Guardians showcases the growing international talent in Major League Baseball.Los Angeles Today

The Los Angeles Dodgers will make MLB history this week by becoming the first team to play three Japanese starting pitchers in a row. Roki Sasaki will start the series opener against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, followed by Shohei Ohtani's first start of the season on Tuesday, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto will take the mound on Wednesday to close out the series.

Why it matters

The Dodgers have significantly increased their Japanese player presence in recent years, signing Ohtani and Yamamoto to lucrative deals and bringing in the young prospect Sasaki. This historic series showcases the growing international talent in Major League Baseball and the Dodgers' commitment to diversifying their roster.

The details

Ohtani joined the Dodgers two offseasons ago on a 10-year contract, while Yamamoto signed a 12-year, $325 million deal shortly after. Sasaki came to the Dodgers as an international free agent, giving the team six years of club control over the young pitcher. Despite some struggles in spring training, the Dodgers remain confident in Sasaki's abilities and expect him to perform well in his MLB debut.

  • The Dodgers' series against the Guardians begins on Monday, March 30, 2026.
  • Roki Sasaki will start the series opener on Monday.
  • Shohei Ohtani will make his first start of the 2026 season on Tuesday.
  • Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start the final game of the series on Wednesday.

The players

Roki Sasaki

A young Japanese pitcher who signed with the Dodgers as an international free agent, giving the team six years of club control.

Shohei Ohtani

A Japanese superstar who signed a 10-year deal with the Dodgers a couple of offseasons ago, bolstering their rotation with one of the best arms from the NPB.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto

A Japanese pitcher who joined the Dodgers shortly after Ohtani, signing a 12-year contract worth $325 million.

Brandon Gomes

The general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Dave Roberts

The manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“He's done it on the biggest stage, in front of 50,000, so we know it's in there. Now it's just getting him in rhythm and consistently syncing up pitches.”

— Brandon Gomes, General Manager, Los Angeles Dodgers

“I believe in him, I really do. So for me, I'm going to keep pouring into him, like our staff is, and expect it to get better.”

— Dave Roberts, Manager, Los Angeles Dodgers

What’s next

The Dodgers will continue to monitor Roki Sasaki's progress and development as he makes his MLB debut on Monday. If he can build on his past success and overcome his spring training struggles, the Dodgers' historic three-game series could be the start of a promising season for the young Japanese pitcher.

The takeaway

The Dodgers' decision to invest heavily in Japanese talent has paid off, as they are now poised to make MLB history with three Japanese starters in a row. This showcase of international talent reflects the growing globalization of the sport and the Dodgers' commitment to building a diverse, championship-caliber roster.