The National League West is responsible for two of the best pitching performances in the World Series this century between former San Francisco Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner and current Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Bumgarner dominated the Kansas City Royals in the 2014 World Series while Yamamoto saved the day against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2025. Both pitchers appeared in three games, tossed a complete game and then turned around to close out Game 7 in relief. Yamamoto did so less than 24 hours after he tossed 96 pitches in Game 6 before 2 2/3 scoreless frames in the finale.
Both pitchers obviously earned World Series MVP honors in their respective seasons. Here's how the dominant runs from Yamamoto and Bumgarner stack up against each other.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto
2025 World Series: 3-0, 1.03 ERA, 17 2/3 IP, 10 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 15 K
2025 Postseason: 5-1, 1.45 ERA, 6 G (5 GS), 37 1/3 IP, 23 H, 8 R (6 ER), 6 BB, 33 K, 2.79 FIP
Madison Bumgarner
2014 World Series: 2-0, 0.43 ERA, 21 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 17 K
2014 Postseason: 4-1, 1.03 ERA, 7 G (6 GS), 52 2/3 IP, 28 H, 7 ER (6 ER), 6 BB, 45 K. 2.62 FIP
Bumgarner's collective body of work still reigns over Yamamoto's 2025 run, but the recent stretch for the Dodgers righty is likely the best World Series performance we've seen from a starter over the last 11 seasons since Bumgarner.
The Dodgers and Giants have now each won three championships in the 21st century. Los Angeles holds titles in 2020, 2024 and 2025 while San Francisco won three in five years in 2010, 2012 and 2014.
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