DODGERS MANAGER EYES RARE ACES-ONLY COMPETITION FOR 2026 TOP PITCHING AWARD
LOS ANGELES, CA—The Los Angeles Dodgers are still basking in the glow of their second consecutive World Series title, but Manager Dave Roberts has already turned the attention to the 2026 season, predicting an unprecedented in-house battle for the National League’s highest pitching honor.
Roberts publicly stated that the race for the 2026 NL Cy Young Award will come down to a competition between his two Japanese star aces: Yoshinobu Yamamoto and a now fully healthy Shohei Ohtani.
“I think Ohtani is going to have a fantastic season, and he’s going to be in the mix. But I think Yamamoto is going to have something to say about it, too,” Roberts told a Japanese news outlet, confirming the club’s expectation for dominance from the top of their rotation.
THE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC CONUNDRUM
The prediction comes with an asterisk, as both Yamamoto and Ohtani are expected to join the reigning champion Team Japan for the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC). This commitment to international play, following a grueling 2025 season and deep postseason run, has led to caution from the Dodgers’ front office.
Workload Management: Roberts noted that the physical strain of the WBC and a long MLB season “is a lot on the body, the arm.” To manage their workload, the Dodgers are considering a six-man rotation and will likely provide Ohtani and Yamamoto with extra rest between starts throughout the season.
Ohtani’s Return: Ohtani, who returned to the mound in 2025 after a year off (posting a solid 2.87 ERA over 47 innings), is expected to pitch with no restrictions in 2026, targeting 25-27 starts. Roberts admitted he’s “hoping he [Ohtani] doesn’t” pitch for Japan in the WBC, but confirmed the club will support their players’ national commitments.
Yamamoto’s Encore: Yamamoto, who finished third in the 2025 NL Cy Young voting (2.49 ERA, 201 strikeouts) and was named World Series MVP, is a clear favorite, but the WBC could affect his overall innings count for the award.
HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR AN ELITE ROTATION
The predicted rivalry is a testament to the sheer, unparalleled talent the Dodgers have assembled in their rotation. With the expected return of Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Roki Sasaki (returning to the rotation), the Dodgers enter 2026 with arguably the most elite collection of starting pitching depth in MLB history.
The in-house Cy Young race between their two Japanese superstars simply highlights the team’s commitment to short-term dominance and long-term pitching success.
