Yoshinobu Yamamoto was in full “I’ll do it myself” mode in Game 2 of the NLCS.
The Los Angeles Dodgers star pitcher threw an absolute masterpiece on Tuesday against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisc. Yamamoto went the distance, going all nine innings and striking out seven batters on 111 pitches thrown as the Dodgers won 5-1 to take a 2-0 series lead going back to Los Angeles.
After giving up a leadoff home run to Milwaukee’s Jackson Chourio in the first inning, Yamamoto was virtually flawless. He retired the last 14 Brewers batters of the game in a row and produced MLB’s first playoff complete game since Justin Verlander in Game 2 of the 2017 ALCS for the Houston Astros.
In response to Yamamoto’s gem, fans on X all said the same thing — that Yamamoto made sure not to let it get to the Dodgers’ bullpen.
Yamamoto finishing the game because we can’t depend on our bullpen pic.twitter.com/J7TgkJfsYB
— Mexican Rug Dealer (@DealinRugs) October 15, 2025
That’s one way to avoid the bullpen, just have your starter pitch a complete game.
— Ryan Dyrud (@RyanDyrudLAFB) October 15, 2025
What performance from Yamamoto
yoshinobu yamamoto is tired of the bullpen f*cking him up so he made sure to complete the game this time
— (@shancianne) October 15, 2025
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, to Dave Roberts and the bullpen tonight:#LetsGoDodgers | #Postseason pic.twitter.com/D4EALXbW3R
— Scooty Puff Sr, The Doom Bringer (@blksethrogen) October 15, 2025
The Dodgers’ bullpen has been extremely shaky all year. Yamamoto in particular has also witnessed some of his own brilliant regular season starts get thrown away by the team’s relievers.
That said, the best way to get around bullpen woes is to not have to use a bullpen at all. Yamamoto’s complete game comes just one day after fellow Dodgers starter Blake Snell went eight innings strong in a Game 1 victory (though that one also got dicey once the relievers took over in the ninth).
