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Yoshinobu Yamamoto 2025 Outlook: Potential Ace Thwarted by Limited Workload
15 mins agoYoshinobu Yamamoto was great for the Dodgers when on the field in 2024, pitching to a 7-2 record and 3.00 ERA with comparable 2.86 xFIP and 3.44 xERA marks. The issue was a rotator cuff strain that limited him to just 90 IP. Yamamoto's arsenal looked great in the small sample, with a solid fastball (6.9% SwStr%, 64.8% Zone%) setting up an excellent split (19.4% SwStr%, 44.1% chase rate), a decent curve (13.2% SwStr%, 52.2% Zone%), and an intriguing cutter (11.2% SwStr%, 49.4% Zone%). Backed by one of the strongest teams in the league, Yamamoto could probably deliver on his 55.12 ADP if he pitched a full season. Sadly, the Dodgers are using a six-man rotation to ease the workloads on Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, and Blake Snell, likely denying Yamamoto the volume fantasy managers expect from an ace. He's not worth the risk in fantasy as long as the Dodgers treat him with kid gloves.
