Originally published by DodgerBlue.com
The Los Angeles Dodgers returned to the win column on Saturday night behind another solid start from Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
While the offense led the way in a 15-3 victory over the San Diego Padres at Petco Park, the right-hander also did his part on the mound. He allowed two runs on five hits in six innings of work en route to his eighth win of the season.
According to OptaSTATS, Yamamoto joined Jake Arrieta as the only pitchers to record 12 consecutive quality starts on the road while allowing 46 or fewer hits since earned runs became an official stat in 1913.
Since earned runs became an official stat in both leagues in 1913, two pitchers have had a 12-start span on the road with all quality starts and 46 or fewer hits allowed:
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (last 12 road starts)
Jake Arrieta (2015-16) pic.twitter.com/GZUOFAxmNH— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) June 28, 2026
A quality start is when a pitcher records at least six innings and allows three or fewer earned runs.
Yamamoto’s impressive stretch began on Aug. 18, 2025, when he allowed three runs over seven innings against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Since then, he has notched quality starts on the road against the Padres (three times), Baltimore Orioles, San Francisco Giants (twice), Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays, Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago White Sox.
In seven road starts this season, Yamamoto has posted a 2.28 ERA over 47.1 innings while holding hitters to a .190 batting average.
Arrieta, meanwhile, accumulated 20 consecutive quality starts on the road from May 23, 2015, through May 20, 2016, while pitching for the Chicago Cubs. Fifteen of those came during the 2015 season, which saw the right-hander win the National League Cy Young Award.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s 2026 stats
Yamamoto is in the midst of another excellent season as he owns a 2.67 ERA, 3.40 FIP and 0.89 WHIP across 97.2 innings pitched (15 starts). He seems to be in a good spot to make his second career All-Star team, but that will be up to the coaches and players.
If Yamamoto continues to pitch at a high level, he could additionally become the first Japanese pitcher to win a Cy Young Award at the end of the season. However, he will face tough competition from the likes of Shohei Ohtani, Jacob Misiorowski and Cristopher Sánchez, who are all having outstanding seasons as well.
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