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Yoshinobu Yamamoto will not pitch in the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, per Dodger Blue staff. The Dodgers and Yamamoto mutually decided he would sit out the Midsummer Classic, making him the second Dodger to bow out after Shohei Ohtani withdrew to undergo a minor procedure on his left knee.

Yamamoto has had a fascinating first chapter of his Dodgers career. He signed the richest contract ever given to a pitcher coming from Nippon Professional Baseball — a 12-year, $325 million deal ahead of the 2024 season — and showed exactly why the Dodgers invested so heavily. His stuff is elite: a fastball that plays up with deception, a splitter that falls off the table, and a curveball that keeps hitters off-balance. His 2025 season was disrupted by a rotator cuff strain that cost him significant time, so managing his workload has been a priority for the organization. Even with some rollercoaster outings this year (his most recent start against Arizona was a rough one), the Dodgers have consistently expressed confidence in his ability and trajectory. Earning an All-Star nod this season was a testament to his talent, but the decision to skip the game suggests the priority is keeping him healthy and sharp for the second half and, ultimately, October.

This is now a pattern for the Dodgers heading into the break. Ohtani is out with that knee procedure, and now Yamamoto joins him on the sideline. Gavin Wrobleski was added to the NL roster as a replacement for Corbin Burns, so the Dodgers will still have representation in the game, but losing both Ohtani and Yamamoto from the showcase is notable.

I don’t have a problem with this at all. Yamamoto came into this season needing to build on his workload after missing time in 2025, and the Dodgers have been deliberate about how they’ve managed his innings. Giving him a full break rather than asking him to throw an inning or two in a glorified exhibition is the smart play. We need him locked in for the second half, not flying cross-country and going through the All-Star circus. The Dodgers are built to compete for a championship, and that means making pragmatic decisions like this one — even if it means fewer blue jerseys on the All-Star field.

With both Ohtani and Yamamoto getting extra rest, the Dodgers should come out of the break with two of their most important players recharged. That matters a lot more than a midseason exhibition. The front office and coaching staff have shown all year that they’re playing the long game with this roster, and this is just another example. Get healthy, get rested, and come out firing when the games count again.

Source(s): Staff (Dodger Blue) | First reported: July 12, 2026 3:27 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers