Dodgers Curse Strikes Yoshinobu Yamamoto After Being Jinxed by Dave Roberts

It began like any other big-league evening, smooth mechanics, a roaring crowd, and a star dealing like he always does. The expectations were sky-high and rightfully so. This was not just any pitcher on the mound. This was Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Dodgers star to break the old cycle and guide the transformation deep into October.

However, as the night wore on, something transformed. What once felt like destiny is now tangled up in déjà vu for the team that has gone through this all before.

The Dodgers’ injury crisis from 2023 to 2024 supports growing claims of a “curse,” with staggering data painting a troubling pattern. In 2023, a jaw-dropping 15 Dodgers pitchers underwent Tommy John surgery — more than double that of the Phillies, who led the league with the fewest at six. The problem only intensified in 2024, with River Ryan, one of the team’s breakout arms, joining the long list after an electric start to the season. His UCL tear followed dominant outings, echoing similar fates suffered by Yamamoto, Brasier, Graterol, and others. The pattern is eerie: just when Dodgers pitchers hit their stride, injury strikes, again and again.

Now, coming back to this season, it was not long ago that Dave Roberts confidently said that Yoshinobu Yamamoto is an upcoming MVP star — a rare crown for a pitcher, however, one that did not feel so far-fetched given the electric beginning. Now, fast forward to the star’s current outing against the Guardians, and suddenly, that crown feels a little heavy.

In the third inning, a vital play to first base forced Yamamoto into an awkward situation, and though the star finished six innings, something felt off. A hip issue, as Roberts said after the game. Then the jinx whispers began.

“I do not know if that kind of got into the mechanics in the fifth and sixth innings. It just did not seem as fine,” Roberts shared, highlighting the hip discomfort and Yamamoto’s prior 110-pitch marathon. The star was pulled at 88 pitches this time. This decision was taken not because Yamamoto was unraveling, but Roberts could feel the team’s pitching past tapping on his shoulder. Even though he was not limping, the timing — and the buildup — could not be ignored.

This was supposed to be distinctive. After 2024 was shortened by a rotator cuff issue, 2025 had been a redemption arc. Eleven starts in, Yamamoto was putting up quality outings in seven of them. These 11 matches were all starts, with a win-loss record of 6-3 and an ERA of 1.97. He has pitched a total of 64.0 innings. That number is staggering! However, pushing 110 pitches one week and tagging runners the next does not scream careful management.

The fear is not just related to Yamamoto’s hip or pitch count, it is related to history repeating itself. With every new injury scare, the weight of past breakdowns grows heavier. And just when it felt like the Dodgers were spiraling into another chapter of rotation despair, a distinctive kind of news broke through the gloom, one that brought a glimmer of hope.

Ohtani’s road provides the Dodgers a silver lining

Shohei Ohtani, the most anticipated two-way star in MLB, finally threw live batting practice. It was the star’s first since undergoing UCL surgery. The three-time MVP was not just working his way back; Shohei Ohtani was unleashing 97 mph heat. Such a velocity, though unintentional, sent an effective message: Ohtani is ahead of schedule, and the fire is still very much there.

However, what stood out beyond the radar gun was his mentality. “It felt good… like, I was a pitcher again,” Ohtani said, referencing memories of his dominant days in MLB and NPB. With a 3.01 career ERA and a strikeout-to-walk ratio north of 3.5, the star’s return could redefine the team’s second-half ceiling. Though Ohtani’s pitching comeback will not be rushed, with weekly live BPs and a slow ramp-up on the road, the team now has a reason to breathe easier. Because while one star faces uncertainty, another could just be warming up for his long-awaited encore.

In a season teetering between promise and déjà vu, the team identifies itself caught once again in the tug-of-war between heartbreak and hope. Yamamoto’s injury is bad, specifically, with Roberts’ MVP prophecy still echoing. However, with Ohtani revving up, there is still hope. The Dodgers’ story is not over, it is just getting interesting.

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