With the Los Angeles Dodgers planning to put Roki Sasaki back in their starting rotation this season, it was accompanied by a goal of having the right-hander develop a third pitch.
Manager Dave Roberts touted that as being essential to Sasaki’s future as a starter. Spring Training saw him incorporating a cutter and two-seamer, but adding a new pitch became overshadowed by Sasaki’s overall struggles.
What is Roki Sasaki’s new pitch?
In his first start this season, Sasaki threw 22 of what have been charted as a slider. The usage exceeded that of his splitter (18) but was less than the 38 four-seam fastballs Sasaki threw over four innings against the Cleveland Guardians.
“I’m not sure,” Roberts said with a laugh when asked if the Dodgers call Sasaki’s new pitch a cutter. It’s how MLB Statcast first documented the pitch before revising to a slider.
Some of the discrepancy comes with how much break the pitch has.
“I think more of we’re trying to manage the first two pitches and build some confidence. I think that’s important,” Roberts said. “I don’t know the exact usage of that third pitch.”
Dalton Rushing, who was behind the plate for Sasaki’s 2026 debut and is catching him again on Easter, indicated the Dodgers tentatively refer to Sasaki’s third pitch as a cutter.
“You know, it’s still new. We don’t truly know how we want to use it just yet,” Rushing said. “All we know is it’s something off the fastball, and the more he throws it in the zone it makes his fastball that much better.”
Sasaki primarily threw a four-seam fastball and splitter during his rookie season, often struggling with location and velocity as a starter. The splitter was a plus-pitch when he could land it in the zone or get hitters behind in the count, but that often was an issue.
And while the Dodgers believe adding a third pitch will be instrumental to Sasaki’s overall future, the reality is there first must be improvement with the fastball and splitter. The 24-year-old also may be in need of more confidence.
Sasaki revealed that was lacking heading into his start last week but finding some success helped become more sure of himself. Meanwhile, Roberts cited overcoming last year’s struggles to contribute in the postseason as one of the reasons the Dodgers remain confident in Sasaki.
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