Although the Los Angeles Dodgers lost Game 1 of the NLCS vs. the Milwaukee Brewers, they felt good with Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the hill in Game 2. However, that didn't go as planned either.

Yamamoto didn't last long in Milwaukee, exiting the game in the third inning after the Brewers offense made him throw 75 pitches in that span. It is a stark contrast to Game 2 of the 2025 NLCS, when Yamamoto threw a complete game to put Los Angeles up 2-0 in the series.

Yamamoto's success in the playoffs in the 2024 and 2025 World Series runs made it seem like the pitcher would not have a bad performance again in the postseason. Unfortunately, every pitcher produces a clunker of a game at some point.

Here's how Milwaukee got to Yamamoto on Monday.

MORE: Full Dodgers vs. Brewers NLCS schedule

How Brewers knocked out Yoshinobu Yamamoto

The Brewers made Yamamoto work in the first three innings of Game 2 against the Brewers, leading to the ace coming out of the game after just eight outs. After the Brewers scored a run off Yamamoto in the bottom of the first inning, Milwaukee really worked the pitcher in the third inning on the way to taking a 3-2 lead.

In the third inning, David Hamilton opened the frame with a single, and two batters later Bryce Turang worked a walk to put two on with one out. William Contreras then made Yamamoto throw seven-more pitches, but he flew out.

It was Jake Bauers and Christian Yelich who did the real damage. Bauers worked a 12-pitch walk, producing six foul balls, to load the bases for Yelich, who then singled on the second pitch he saw.

CHRISTIAN YELICH COMES THROUGH! BREWERS LEAD https://t.co/eZ2VMwaYki

— MLB (@MLB) October 12, 2026

Dave Roberts pulled Yamamoto to prevent further damage, ending the ace's day right there.

MORE: How MLB payrolls compare for the ALCS, NLCS teams

Yoshinobu Yamamoto Game 2 stats

  • Innings: 2.2
  • Pitches: 75
  • Runs: 3 
  • Strikeouts: 1
  • Hits: 4
  • Walks: 2

Yamamoto's performance in Game 2 is tied for the shortest in his playoff career, as the Dodgers starter had completed at least three innings in each previous playoff start. Yamamoto did throw 2.2 innings in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, which secured the Dodgers World Series title.

Previously, Yamamoto's shortest start in the playoffs was his first postseason start in 2024, when he allowed five runs in just three innings against the San Diego Padres.