Yamamoto’s Heroic Two-Day Performance Lifts Dodgers to Repeat World Series Title

TORONTO — Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s arms were so weary he needed help lifting the World Series MVP trophy — fitting for a pitcher who carried the Los Angeles Dodgers across the finish line. One day after throwing 96 pitches in Game 6, Yamamoto returned to close out Game 7 with 2⅔ scoreless innings, sealing a 5–4 win in 11 innings and a second consecutive championship for Los Angeles.

“It’s pretty crazy,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the clincher. “I’m kind of crazy for sending him back out there. But I just felt he was the best option.” The gamble paid off. Yamamoto escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth, cruised through the 10th, and survived a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. double in the 11th before watching his teammates celebrate the title on the Rogers Centre turf.

The 27-year-old right-hander became just the fourth pitcher in Major League Baseball history to win both Games 6 and 7 of a World Series, joining Randy Johnson (2001), Harry Brecheen (1946), and Ray Kremer (1925). His Game 7 cap is already headed to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown — a fitting tribute to a postseason for the ages.

Even Yamamoto admitted he wasn’t sure he could pitch at his best again so soon. “Before I went in, to be honest, I was not really sure if I could,” he said through an interpreter. “But once I started warming up, I made a few adjustments and felt I could go in and do my job.”

1. A Two-Day Masterclass in Pitching Grit

Yamamoto’s final act capped a three-game masterpiece against Toronto. Over 17⅔ innings in the World Series, he posted a 1.09 ERA with 15 strikeouts and just two walks, holding the Blue Jays’ powerful lineup to 10 hits and two runs. His dominance came less than a year after signing a 12-year, $325 million deal with Los Angeles — a contract that now looks like a bargain. “He’s one of the best arms in the game,” said Toronto’s Addison Barger. “It’s kind of freaky that he pitched again after yesterday. I don’t know how his arm didn’t fall off.” Blue Jays outfielder George Springer called Yamamoto “elite,” crediting his deep pitch mix. “He can control six or seven different types of spin, and that split is just hard to hit,” Springer said. Dodgers catcher Will Smith, who hit the go-ahead home run in the 11th inning of Game 7, praised his battery mate’s composure. “I told him before the game, ‘If you can give us one inning, we’ll win,’” Smith said. “He gave us three. That was special. He’ll need a few months off, but that was awesome.”

2. A Postseason of Endurance and Excellence

Yamamoto’s postseason run showcased a level of stamina unseen in modern baseball. In Game 2, he threw his second consecutive postseason complete game — a four-hitter that retired the final 20 batters in order. Earlier, in the National League Championship Series, he tossed a three-hit shutout against Milwaukee, marking the first postseason complete game in eight years. Before Yamamoto, no pitcher had gone the distance in a World Series game since Kansas City’s Johnny Cueto in 2015. His Game 6 start, though less dominant, still saw him pitch six strong innings in a 3–1 Dodgers win to force the deciding Game 7. Including his win in last year’s Fall Classic against the Yankees, Yamamoto is now 4–0 with a 1.13 ERA in four World Series starts — a record rivaling some of the greatest October pitchers in history. Roberts and teammates compared his feat to Dodgers legends like Orel Hershiser and Sandy Koufax, both known for postseason brilliance. Before joining the Dodgers, Yamamoto had already proven his endurance in Japan, throwing 12 complete games over his final three seasons with the Orix Buffaloes. In Los Angeles, he has now established himself as both a global star and the modern standard for postseason resilience.

3. The Legacy of a Champion

Yamamoto’s back-to-back heroics embodied the Dodgers’ identity — depth, discipline, and unwavering belief in their system. Roberts’ decision to turn again to his ace after just one day’s rest underscored both trust and desperation in a tense, back-and-forth finale. The payoff was a performance that will be remembered for decades. “He’s the GOAT!” Roberts shouted moments before lifting the trophy, echoing the sentiment of a team that had just witnessed one of the gutsiest displays in World Series history. Now, as the Dodgers celebrate another championship and Yamamoto heads into a well-earned offseason, the baseball world is left in awe of a player whose determination transcended fatigue. “It’s hard to describe,” Roberts said. “You just don’t see this kind of will anymore.”

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With unmatched endurance and calm under pressure, Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered one of the greatest two-day pitching performances in World Series history, powering the Dodgers to consecutive championships and cementing his legacy among baseball’s elite.