The Los Angeles Dodgers will get to see Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in spring training games before the duo heads off to join the Japanese team for the World Baseball Classic.
Ohtani is leading off at DH in the starting lineup for Saturday’s spring training opener against the Los Angeles Angels.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters prior to first pitch against the Angels that Ohani will play in a “couple” of Cactus League games without specifying exactly when the four-time MVP will be departing.
“I know that it’s going to be soon. He’s going to play in a couple Cactus League games, but I’m not exactly sure when his plane ticket is. He hasn’t said,” Roberts said. “So I don’t know what day he’s going to join Team Japan.”
Yamamoto will be the starter on the mound against the Angels, with Roberts noting he’s expected to throw two innings and around 35 pitches in what will be his lone appearance before going to the WBC.
“Obviously him going and pitching for Team Japan, he’s going to be kind of trying to ramp it up and get prepared so I think it’s just more of what he does strike one, use his secondaries and be efficient and get some outs,” Roberts said.
Ohtani is also expected to pitch and face live hitting on Sunday, though it will not be in the Dodgers’ game against the San Diego Padres. Jackson Ferris is the scheduled starter for the matchup.
When Japan’s run in the WBC ends and the two stars return to Dodgers camp, Roberts noted that Yamamoto will pitch around four innings and 60 pitches when he gets back on the mound for them.
Japan is one of three host countries in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, along with the United States and Puerto Rico.
The Japanese team, which won the 2023 event by defeating the U.S. in the final, will begin defense of its title against Chinese Taipei on March 6. The Tokyo Dome will host every game in Pool C.
The quarterfinals will be played at LoanDepot Park in Miami and Daikin Park in Houston. The final two rounds will take place at LoanDepot Park, with the championship game scheduled for March 17.
LA will open the 2026 regular season against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium on March 26.
