"If this countdown were created at the end of the 2025 regular season, Yamamoto would have been a few spots lower. Pitchers like Webb and Sánchez were better than him during the 2025 regular season. ...Yamamoto is certainly capable of competing for the NL Cy Young Award in 2026 after finishing third a year ago."
"No matter what, he's shown in the postseason that he's a throwback who is willing to take the ball whenever his team needs him in a manner that reminds you of Randy Johnson or Madison Bumgarner."
Yoshinobu Yamamoto dramatically improved from his 2024 rookie season, establishing himself as an elite pitcher in 2025. He made 30 healthy starts, posting a 2.49 ERA and achieving his first 200-strikeout MLB season. His postseason performance was exceptional, allowing just six earned runs across six appearances, including two complete games in the World Series where he surrendered only two earned runs through 17.2 innings to earn World Series MVP. This dominance elevated him to fourth in Bleacher Report's ace rankings for 2026, behind Tarik Skubal, Paul Skenes, and Garrett Crochet. Yamamoto is positioned as a Cy Young contender for 2026.
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