The Los Angeles Dodgers have no shortage of talent in the starting rotation, and much-touted youngster Roki Sasaki knows he has to earn his spot.
He recently spoke on what he needs to do and how he sees his future with the Dodgers, and fans should be encouraged by his mindset.
What is Roki Sasaki expecting in 2027?
Speaking with Dylan Hernandez of the California Post, Sasaki revealed that he does indeed want to be a starting pitcher, not a bullpen arm, and understands he has to improve to make that dream a reality.
“To start in the regular season and continue being a starter in the postseason, I think I have to give a performance worthy of that,” he said. “I know what I did this year wasn’t enough.
“There are a lot of good pitchers on the team.”
That means an improvement in categories like ERA and WHIP, which were 4.49 and 1.316 in 2026, respectively.
The second half of the season, though, flashed Sasaki’s potential.
His ERA was 5.33 before the All-Star Break and 2.83 after, per Baseball Reference.
“I think Roki’s year, a ton of really positive to take away from it,” general manager Brandon Gomes told Hernandez. “I thought his second half was incredible.”
Despite that improvement, Sasaki wasn’t a starter in the playoffs, instead serving in the bullpen.
“In the playoffs, I think the team winning is prioritized more than anything,” Sasaki said. “I think that if I pitch well in the regular season, I should be able to throw (in the postseason). If I can’t do that, I think it would just mean I’m not good enough.”
All signs indicate that Sasaki is indeed good enough — or at least has the potential to be.
Hernandez detailed how Sasaki threw a harder forkball and recaptured fastball speed over the course of the 2026 season.
“My (fastball) velocity came back at the end,” Sasaki told Hernandez. “Regarding that, I have to continue doing what I’ve done up to this point. I still don’t think I’m there with my breaking balls. I want to level up their quality.”
The true test, of course, will be if Sasaki can play up to his potential and stay at that level for a whole season.
If he does, he’s likely to be in the starting rotation come next October.
If not, though, Sasaki might end of proving his doubters right.
Do you think Roki Sasaki can earn a spot in the starting rotation for next season?
