Roki Sasaki struggled as a starting pitcher during his rookie season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he is returning to the role in 2026.
The right-hander posted a 4.72 ERA and 1.49 WHIP in eight games before landing on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder injury. He missed more than four months before returning to the team at the end of September as a relief pitcher.
Sasaki dominated out of the bullpen and is now determined to find similar success in the Dodgers rotation.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts previously said that Sasaki would eventually need to develop a third pitch, and the 24-year-old said he is working on adding a cutter and two-seam fastball, via Dylan Hernández of the California Post:
In response to this, Sasaki said today that he is working on a cutter and two-seamer. https://t.co/mVr7Rw8dUX
— Dylan Hernández (@dylanohernandez) February 1, 2026
Sasaki primarily threw a four-seam fastball and splitter in his first big league season, often struggling with location and velocity as a starter. His splitter was a plus pitch when he could land it in the zone or get hitters behind in the count, but that was an issue for most of his season.
An effective third pitch would go a long way toward Sasaki’s potential success as a starter, along with smoothing out his mechanics.
“I think there are two things: just making sure that my mechanics are in a very consistent place, so that I can be efficient with my delivery,” Sasaki said through an interpreter of what he hopes to do as a starting pitcher. “I think that was the key.
“And secondly, I think it’s about the physical part of it. And I think that just comes with working out.”
Roki Sasaki wants to improve body functionality
In addition to getting his mechanics down pat, Sasaki would like to improve the efficiency of his body movements.
“Aside from the mechanics, actually getting my body parts, regaining my body’s functionality,” Sasaki explained. “One example is with the groin, making sure that the function of the groin is in the right place.
“So aside from the mechanics, it’s more about the functionality of each body part.”
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