Dodgers' Yamamoto Looks to Continue Dominance Against Struggling Guardians

Cleveland's Gavin Williams faces tough test against Los Angeles' ace in series finale

Apr. 1, 2026 at 7:21pm

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The Los Angeles Dodgers will look to continue their strong start to the season when they host the Cleveland Guardians in the finale of their three-game series. The Dodgers will send Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the mound, who is coming off a dominant 2025 campaign. The Guardians will counter with Gavin Williams, who had a breakout season last year but has struggled with control issues. With the Dodgers' potent lineup and Yamamoto's overpowering stuff, the home team is heavily favored in this matchup.

Why it matters

This game features a potential postseason preview, as both the Dodgers and Guardians are expected to be among the top teams in their respective leagues this season. The historic matchup of Japanese-born starting pitchers also adds intrigue, as no team has ever started three consecutive games with Japanese-born starters.

The details

The Dodgers have gotten off to a 4-1 start this season, with strong performances from their starting rotation and bullpen. Newcomers like Kyle Tucker and Edwin Díaz have also made immediate impacts. The Guardians, on the other hand, have struggled offensively, ranking near the bottom of the league in several key offensive categories. Gavin Williams had a breakout 2025 season, but his underlying numbers suggest he may have been a bit lucky. He'll have his hands full against a deep Dodgers lineup, especially if he struggles with control issues again.

  • The series finale is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
  • Yamamoto is making his second start of the season after pitching six innings and allowing two runs in his first outing.

The players

Yoshinobu Yamamoto

A three-time Eiji Sawamura Award winner in Japan, Yamamoto is making his second start of the season for the Dodgers after a dominant 2025 campaign.

Gavin Williams

The Guardians' starting pitcher had a breakout 2025 season, but his underlying numbers suggest he may have been a bit lucky. He'll look to bounce back against the powerful Dodgers lineup.

José Ramírez

The Guardians' star third baseman and one of the most feared hitters in the game.

Kyle Tucker

The Dodgers' new acquisition, who hit a go-ahead single in the second game of the season.

Edwin Díaz

The Dodgers' new closer, who already has two saves on the young season.

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What they’re saying

“Yamamoto has been dominant for us, and we're excited to see him take the mound against a tough Guardians lineup.”

— Dave Roberts, Dodgers Manager

“We know we have our work cut out for us against Yamamoto, but we're confident Gavin can give us a strong outing and keep us in the game.”

— Terry Francona, Guardians Manager

What’s next

If Yamamoto can continue his strong start, the Dodgers will look to secure a series win and continue their hot start to the season. For the Guardians, a strong outing from Williams could give them a chance to steal the series finale and build some momentum heading into their next series.

The takeaway

This matchup between the Dodgers and Guardians features two of the top teams in baseball, with the Dodgers' dominant pitching staff going up against the Guardians' struggling offense. If Yamamoto can keep the Guardians' bats in check, the Dodgers should be able to secure the series win and continue their strong start to the season.