Yoshinobu Yamamoto met with reporters to look back on his start against the Milwaukee Brewers, describing how his fastball felt very good throughout the outing and allowed him to work into the 6th inning.
Yamamoto explained that he approached the game carefully at the start, being mindful of the danger posed by the opposing lineup. He noted that his bullpen session beforehand had gone very well, which led him to be cautious about not overexerting himself early on. Looking back, he admitted that he may have been a little too conscious of holding back in the first inning, though he said this was not a deliberate mindset going in.
He mentioned that from the second inning onward, he was able to settle into his usual approach and gradually build good rhythm and feel, even as his pitch count decreased and he faced some difficult moments. Despite those challenges, he said he was pleased that he could continue building on his good sensations as the game progressed and pitch into the 6th inning.
Asked about opposing hitters watching more of his pitches, Yamamoto said his fastball was especially good throughout the outing, and that many of the batters were actually swinging early rather than being patient. He did not feel that the opponents were being especially cautious against him, and reflected positively on his overall command that day.
Yamamoto also touched on his recent stretch of outings, noting that he has consistently pitched deep into games since June, which he considers a very positive sign. He said that continuing to take the mound reliably is the most important thing for him, and that he wants to keep managing his condition and training carefully in order to keep performing well and staying healthy throughout the season.