Roki Sasaki is returning to the Los Angeles Dodgers starting rotation this year after ending his rookie season on a dominant note in the bullpen.
Sasaki registered three saves with a 0.84 ERA in nine postseason appearances, which included a heroic three-inning effort against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 4 of the National League Division Series.
Sasaki’s success as a relief pitcher came after he struggled in the Dodgers rotation to begin the 2025 season. He posted a 4.72 ERA and 1.49 WHIP in eight starts before a right shoulder injury sidelined him for more than four months.
Sasaki is now determined to find success as a starter and has impressed manager Dave Roberts in the early stages of Spring Training.
“Roki looked really good,” Roberts said. “The fastball was coming out really well. Threw some sliders, the split was fine, and I thought the command was really good for the first day.
“He’s way ahead of where he was last spring. So certainly healthy, the delivery, and a very encouraging day yesterday.”
Sasaki is set to be part of a Dodgers rotation that includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow and Emmet Sheehan. Blake Snell is also part of the group, but his availability for Opening Day could be in question due to left arm trouble that has carried over from last season.
Roki Sasaki working on developing new pitches
Sasaki primarily threw a four-seam fastball and splitter in his first season with the Dodgers, 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.
Sasaki has been working on adding a cutter and two-seam fastball to his arsenal from the advice of Roberts, which would go a long way toward his potential success as a starter.
“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.”
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