Yoshinobu Yamamoto addressed reporters on June 28, 2026, following the Los Angeles Dodgers' win over the San Diego Padres, reflecting on his start and the mechanical work he continues to do on his splitter.
Yamamoto said during the press conference that his condition entering the game felt as good as usual, and that he was able to retire hitters cleanly in the first inning. "I was able to get into the game with a good feeling, about the same as always, and I managed to get through the first inning," he said.
On the home run he allowed, Yamamoto acknowledged the pitch was slightly elevated and too close to the middle of the plate. "It was a little high and drifted a bit toward the middle, so the batter hit it well — but I think if I had worked the location a little more, or gotten the height right, it probably would have stayed in front of the fence," he noted. Despite pitching with a large run advantage, he added that he makes a point of approaching each inning as though it were a close game.
Yamamoto also explained how he handled the extended sixth-inning offensive half. When asked whether the unusually long break left him restless, he flatly denied it, stating he stayed sharp by keeping himself warmed up and maintaining his concentration throughout the delay.
On the splitter, Yamamoto acknowledged the pitch was not performing well in his previous start, which prompted adjustments between outings. He stated that the feel is not yet where he wants it, but described the splitter as a pitch that can shift dramatically with very minor tweaks — moving between generating swing-and-misses and inducing ground balls. "I want to keep adjusting it a little more and turn it into a pitch that can get swings and misses," he said, indicating he intends to continue refining it heading into his next outing.