Yoshinobu Yamamoto playoff comps to Madison Bumgarner are underselling Dodgers ace

Los Angeles Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto proved once again that he's the most dominant postseason pitcher in the game today. The right-hander dispatched of the Atlanta Braves' lineup rather handily on Tuesday evening, going seven strong and allowing just one run on four hits while striking out 10.

Following his outing, Yamamoto found himself among some pretty elite company. He became the first pitcher since Madison Bumgarner (2014-2016) to record 30-plus postseason innings while allowing four or fewer runs over a stretch of four starts. In other words, Yamamoto is flat out getting it done.

But is comparing Yamamoto's playoff dominance to Bumgarner underselling the Dodgers' ace? Perhaps a better question — and one that will surely irritate San Francisco Giants fans — is Bumgarner's so-called supremacy a bit overrated?

Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto could leave Giants' playoff hero Madison Bumgarner in the dust

To be fair — and much to the dismay of Dodgers fans — Bumgarner was a stalwart playoff performer for the Giants during their World Series title runs in 2010, 2012, and 2014. He was outstanding during the Fall Classic itself, allowing just one earned run over five appearances while covering 36 innings.

But Bumgarner's quote-unquote playoff dominance was not on full display until the lights were brightest. In 2010, he was knocked around in both the NLDS and the NLCS, allowing five runs on 15 hits. Those numbers looked even worse two years later when he saw 10 runs charged to his ledger during the 2012 NLDS and NLCS. And though he dominated the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 2014 Wild Card Game, he allowed six runs on 15 hits during the NLDS and NLCS combined.

Yamamoto's efforts during the World Series last season earned him MVP honors. His unforgettable relief performance in Game 7, plus his two stellar starts, included just two earned runs over 17⅔ innings. He allowed only two walks and punched out 15 Toronto Blue Jays' batters.

If the Dodgers advance past the Braves and onto the NLCS (and hopefully the World Series) Yamamoto will have a chance to add to his already legendary résumé. But it's already looking better than Bumgarner's.

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