Amidst the mounting pressure on the Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitching ranks, coach Dave Roberts unexpectedly sent an emotional and philosophical message specifically to Yoshinobu Yamamoto—the Japanese pitcher experiencing a period of inconsistency at the start of the 2026 season.

In the context of Yamamoto being criticized for his less-than-perfect starts, particularly his tendency to concede early innings, Roberts chose not to pressure him. Instead, he opted for calmness and mental depth—characteristics of his coaching philosophy.

“Baseball isn’t a game of perfection,” Roberts shared with the team’s internal media. “It’s a game of adjustment. The best isn’t the one who never stumbles, but the one who gets up faster after each stumble.”

This message came just days after Yamamoto had a high-quality game, but one that was still disappointing when an early moment put the Dodgers in a chasing position. Although he continued to shoot confidently and extended effective innings, the final result didn’t fully reflect his individual performance.

According to several internal team sources, Roberts spoke privately with Yamamoto in the coaching room after the game, emphasizing that the Dodgers weren’t judging him by “one wrong inning,” but by the entire process he was building.

“You’re not defined by one missed shot,” Roberts reportedly said. “You’re defined by how you react afterward.”

Since joining the Dodgers, Yoshinobu Yamamoto has always been seen as a long-term strategic piece in the rotation. With a massive contract and expectations of becoming the team’s “true ace,” every mistake he makes is scrutinized more closely than usual.

According to recent statistics, Yamamoto’s biggest problem isn’t his overall ability, but his inconsistency in the early game—where he sometimes gets caught out of a difficult situation by opponents and has to pull himself out of trouble.

However, in many recent games, he has shown excellent “reset” abilities: after encountering early difficulties, Yamamoto usually regains control, sustains 6-7 innings, and limits damage for the rest of the game.

This is what keeps the coaching staff from panicking.

“We see what the scoreboard doesn’t show,” a Dodgers coaching staff member shared. “He’s very close to his best form.”

For Dave Roberts, this isn’t the first time he’s chosen to protect his players’ morale during difficult times. He’s long pursued a coaching philosophy focused on mindset rather than extreme game-by-game reactions.

Roberts emphasized that a career at the highest level always involves periods of ups and downs, especially for international pitchers adapting to the MLB environment.

“At this level, every pitcher is challenged,” he said. “Nobody goes through a season without getting beaten. The important thing is that you don’t let it become your identity.”

This message is seen as a direct reminder to Yamamoto that the Dodgers still have absolute faith in him, despite the increasing external criticism.

Despite media questioning his performance, the atmosphere in the Dodgers’ clubhouse is described as overwhelmingly supportive. Teammates consider Yamamoto one of the most disciplined and meticulous pitchers on the roster.

Some players believe that his self-discipline sometimes makes it difficult for him to maintain his mental rhythm in early innings, but it’s also what allows him to explode at crucial moments.

In fact, Yamamoto continues to maintain his ability to shoot deep in games and keep his ERA competitive, something many MLB teams still consider a core value of a true ace.

The final message: The Dodgers have never lost faith.

With the season still long and the Dodgers still among the strong contenders in the NL, Roberts’ message serves as an important morale boost for Yamamoto.

“He doesn’t need to be perfect today,” Roberts concluded. “He just needs to keep going. And when the big time comes, we know he’ll be there.”

Amidst the pressure, expectations, and intense scrutiny of MLB, Yamamoto remains at the heart of a larger journey: becoming a long-term cornerstone of the Dodgers.

And with the support of the head coach, that journey is far from off track—it’s just being tested.