Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers returned home Friday night and got exactly what they needed: a clean, complete victory. Behind a dominant start from Yoshinobu Yamamoto and a timely home run from Tommy Edman, Los Angeles shut out the Chicago Cubs 3–0 at Dodger Stadium to open the homestand on a high note.
Manager Dave Roberts called it “a really good ball game,” praising the club’s all-around effort on the mound, at the plate, and in the field.
Yamamoto in Command
Yamamoto was the story of the night, turning in perhaps his best outing yet as a Dodger. The right-hander threw six shutout innings, striking out nine and walking none while scattering just four hits.
“Yoshi was very good,” Roberts said. “Set the tone… filling up the strike zone, getting swing and miss. The split was really good, fastball really good.”
Roberts highlighted Yamamoto’s ability to mix in curveballs effectively and keep Cubs hitters off balance. His efficiency was also notable — he finished the sixth inning with just over 100 pitches, retiring Seiya Suzuki as his final batter.
“I didn’t see much stress all night long,” Roberts said. “Strike throwing, the command was there consistently.”
Asked if this was the best version of Yamamoto so far, Roberts nodded. “Each time out, you just see a growing sort of confidence. He’s in a place right now where he’s really unflappable.”
Tommy’s Timely Power
Offensively, it was Tommy Edman who came through yet again. In the fifth inning, Edman took a low changeup and launched it 423 feet into the left-field pavilion, giving the Dodgers a 2–0 lead and breaking the game open.
“He just rode it out and elevated to the pull side,” Roberts said. “Tommy’s just a baseball player.”
Though Roberts chuckled at the notion that Edman is on pace for 60 home runs, he didn’t downplay the impact.
“I’ve been quite surprised,” Roberts admitted. “He wouldn’t call himself a power hitter, but he’s finding ways to backspin the baseball.”
The Dodgers tacked on an insurance run in the sixth, aided by a strong relay play that cut down a potential Cubs rally. Teoscar Hernández, Freddie Freeman, and Mookie Betts combined on a textbook defensive sequence to erase a baserunner and preserve the shutout.
“That was a big spot in the game,” Roberts said. “It was just a clean, sharp play.”
Turning the Corner
After a stretch of uneven performances from the rotation, Roberts said Yamamoto’s outing helped “reset our pen” and brought stability back to the mound.
“Five more days until the next off day,” he noted. “So we needed that length.”
Roberts also praised Edman’s role in keeping the offense afloat while others have been working their way back, including Freeman, who returned from a brief absence.
“Tommy’s been big. Driving in runs, getting big hits when we need them. He’s setting the tone for us.”
Looking ahead, Roberts hopes to see more of the same from rookie Rōki Sasaki, who is scheduled to start Saturday.
“If we can get Roki to do the same thing — command the fastball, let the split play off it — we should have some good results,” Roberts said.
For now, though, the Dodgers will enjoy a well-earned win, with Yamamoto dealing and Edman delivering.
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