Roki Sasaki is Starting to Be Someone Dodgers Can Depend On, Says Dave Roberts
Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Roki Sasaki had a rough beginning to his Major League Baseball career.
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In his first two starts of the 2025 season, Sasaki threw a combined 4.2 innings with five strikeouts and nine walks. He allowed three earned runs.
Sasaki, whose splitter had been pegged as unhittable, lacked command and failed to find the strike zone. Nevertheless, the right-hander has since blossomed in his role in the Dodgers rotation.
In an April 12 start against the Chicago Cubs, Sasaki tossed a career-high five innings. He proceeded to pitch through six innings the following game against the Texas Rangers.
Sasaki was able to record his first MLB win in his latest start against the Atlanta Braves. The 23-year-old ended the night with four strikeouts, two walks, and three earned runs across five innings pitched.
“I thought early on, the first three innings, he was really good,” said manager Dave Roberts. “I thought in the fourth inning he started to waver a little bit with his command, but it was really important for him to get through that fifth inning. I’m happy he regrouped and had a clean fifth inning.
“He’s starting to be that guy we can count on and be dependable.”
When the Dodgers signed Sasaki this offseason, the front office made it increasingly clear that the right-hander was not a finished product. In many ways, the partnership was perfect since the Dodgers did not need Sasaki to be an instant star and the right-hander could develop with the L.A. organization.
“With Roki, a young pitcher, you’re trying to see how he manages any type of stress — see his emotions, see his command and how he can navigate through a lineup two-and-a-half times,” Roberts said. “Lastly [see how he can] make pitches when he needs to. He’s done a much better job of that the last four outings.”
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Photo Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
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