Yoshinobu Yamamoto is absolutely dealing this August, posting a mind-blowing 1.83 ERA over 19 2/3 innings, racking up 18 strikeouts and walking just six batters. After sweeping the Rockies, the Dodgers are bringing that heat back home to Chavez Ravine, and Yamamoto is taking the mound for his fourth start this month, looking to keep his incredible run going against a tricky Pittsburgh Pirates squad.
Yamamoto’s Dominance and That Brewing Revenge Arc
This guy is on a different level right now, sitting at a phenomenal 2.60 ERA for the season, which is already the fifth lowest ERA in the entire National League. You just love to see that kind of elite pitching from your ace. His last start against the Brewers had a bit of a shaky first inning, sure, going 26 pitches with two walks, but then he just flipped a switch. Yamamoto locked in, telling reporters he just needed to “reorganize his thoughts” after trying to be “too fine,” and guess what? He dominated for six innings, giving up just one run and punching out nine guys. That’s the kind of resilience you want to see from an ace. But don’t forget, the Pirates have gotten the better of him once before. Back in April of 2025, Paul Skenes outdueled Yamamoto, leaving him with zero run support in a tough 3-0 loss. You know he’s got that date circled.
Pirates Pack a Punch, Plus a Must-Watch Matchup
Don’t let the Pirates’ record fool you, though. They might be fourth in the NL Central and three games under .500, but this lineup is anything but easy. They lead all of MLB in hits and are third in runs, so they can absolutely put up numbers. They’re sending 23-year-old righty Bubba Chandler to the mound, who’s got a 6-8 record with a 4.23 ERA on the season. This kid has some serious stuff, but he can definitely lose his command, which makes for some exciting, nail-biting moments. The real fireworks might be when Chandler faces Max Muncy. Chandler throws his fastball 51.1% of the time, and Muncy? He absolutely devours that pitch from right-handers. Muncy has already blasted three homers in his last seven games, and seven of his bombs this season have come off that righty fastball. Plus, Oneil Cruz just rejoined the team after being out since early June with a left hand fracture. Before his injury, he was only six dingers away from setting a new career high in half the games. That’s a serious power threat added back to an already dangerous lineup.
It’s going to be a must-watch Friday night game at Dodger Stadium, kicking off at 7:10 p.m. Can Yamamoto continue his incredible August and shut down one of the league’s most prolific hitting teams? Or will the Pirates’ revamped lineup, with Cruz back in the mix and Muncy looking to feast on fastballs, spoil the party? You gotta tune in for this one.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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