[ODDS and EVENS] Yoshinobu Yamamoto is Having Another Sensational Season for the Buffaloes

Yoshinobu Yamamoto is an Established Star

Yamamoto is NPB's winningest pitcher in 2023 (14-5). He also leads Japanese pro baseball in ERA (1.26) and strikeouts (145). With pinpoint control, a blazing fastball, a deceptive curveball and a terrific split-finger fastball, the 25-year-old has a commanding presence on the mound.

And he appears on the verge of a third consecutive Triple Crown title (wins, ERA and strikeouts) among NPB pitchers, which should earn him his third straight Sawamura Award (awarded annually to NPB's best pitcher). 

In 2021, he was 18-5 with a 1.39 ERA and 206 strikeouts. Then, in 2022, he went 15-5 with a 1.68 ERA and fanned 205 batters.

What's also quite notable about Yamamoto's overall statistics is the fact that he rarely surrenders home runs.

In 143 innings this season, he's allowed two homers. That's not a misprint!

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