Yamamoto (6-4, 2.39 ERA) took a 7-3 loss to the New York Yankees on Sunday, snapping his string of 11 starts of five or more innings. He allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings.

He will look to rebound in the middle game of a three-game set. The Cardinals won the opener 5-0 on Friday.

Dodgers catcher Will Smith said of Yamamoto’s rough outing against the Yankees, “Just a little bit off. Execution wasn’t Yoshi-like. Not getting strike one, not putting guys away with two strikes. It happens. And I expect him to come into his next start dialed in like normal.”

Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts got Yamamoto out of that game so he could hit the reset button.

“Wasn’t sharp with any of his pitches. Really uncharacteristic,” Roberts said postgame. “Right around that 90-pitch mark through four innings. There’s just not much benefit to continuing to push him right there. He certainly didn’t feel good today. You’ve just got to wash this one.”

In his only career start against the Cardinals, Yamamoto tossed five scoreless innings on two hits in March 2024. He struck out five batters and walked none.

Yamamoto will confront a St. Louis lineup anchored by first baseman Willson Contreras, who socked a homer Friday night to extend his hitting streak to seven games. He is 9-for-26 (.346) during that stretch with four doubles and eight RBIs.

“His desire to win and the intensity he brings, it’s a good example to set for the young guys because they see how hard he works, how much he cares and how intense every at-bat is, whether we’re up by 10 or down by 10,” Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas said. “He’s never giving anything away.”

The Cardinals moved Contreras from catcher to first base in 2025 to keep him healthy and in the everyday lineup.

“The goal for this year was to stay healthy and play every day at first base,” said Contreras, who played in 59 of the team’s first 63 games. “But at first base, my body also hurts and is sore because it’s not an easy position.

“It takes a lot to be at first base every day. I’m here to play every day and help this team any way I can.”

The Cardinals will counter Yamamoto with Erick Fedde (3-5, 3.82 ERA), who held the Texas Rangers to two runs on four hits and three walks in six innings on Sunday. He fanned five.

Fedde will catch the Dodgers coming off a frustrating offensive game. Los Angeles went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position on Friday.

“Man, it’s a tough lineup that does a ton of damage, that doesn’t swing and miss a ton,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “They have a lot of versatility in how they can beat you …

“Just a nice job between (catcher Pedro) Pages and our pitching staff today.”

In his career, Fedde is 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA in three appearances (two starts) against the Dodgers.

–Field Level Media