Yoshinobu Yamamoto addressed reporters after his outing against the Brewers, reflecting on a first inning that left him with an unusually high pitch count. He conveyed that he had approached the opening frame with more deliberate care than usual, working with a heightened sense of caution that ended up costing him extra pitches.
He explained that once the first inning concluded, he took the opportunity to mentally reorganize his approach. From the second inning onward, he described making a conscious effort to return to his normal rhythm and mindset, rather than continuing with the overly careful approach that had inflated his pitch count early on.
Yamamoto was also asked about his heavy usage of the cutter and how it fit into his overall strategic approach for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He noted that the frequency and situations in which he relies on the pitch vary depending on the game and the batter he is facing, adding that it was difficult to say in the moment whether that usage had directly affected his pitch count without reviewing the outing afterward.
Discussion also turned to a bullpen session the previous night that had reportedly been difficult, with mention of a struggle tied to facing the Diamondbacks. Yamamoto responded that he felt he pitched well overall on the day, acknowledging that he had been hit in recent outings and that, having just returned to form, there were still various sensations and adjustments involved in his recovery process.
He added that seeing a strong performance from himself lifts the energy of the team, and that he personally enjoys watching that kind of outing unfold, expressing hope that he could deliver that same quality of pitching going forward.