Dodgers Rely on Roki Sasaki to Find Command Before Season Opener

Spring training has been a challenging period for Roki Sasaki, but the Los Angeles Dodgers remain steadfast in their belief that the young pitcher can regain his command just in time for the regular season. With the season opener approaching, manager Dave Roberts expressed the urgency for Sasaki to shift into ‘compete mode’ during a crucial start against the Angels at Dodger Stadium.

Roberts emphasized the importance of transitioning from mechanics to competitive spirit as Sasaki prepares for his first official game of the year. “Tonight we need to see him in compete mode. There’s a time to work on your mechanics, and a time to go out and compete,” Roberts stated. “Once the game starts, it’s about getting hitters out, because this is his last tuneup for the fourth game of the regular season. And he’s got to be ready to go.”

Unfortunately for Sasaki, his outing against the Angels did not meet expectations. He was pulled just five batters into the first inning without recording an out. An error by Miguel Rojas on a groundball contributed to the early struggles, but Sasaki’s command continued to falter as he returned to the mound in the second inning.

Throughout the game, the only target Sasaki consistently found was Angels shortstop Zach Neto, who was hit by pitches twice. Sasaki walked six batters and struck out two, a performance that left him frustrated. “The results weren’t good today,” he acknowledged through his interpreter. “My mechanics were a little off, but I’ll keep improving.”

His spring training statistics tell a grim story: Sasaki has thrown more balls (110) than strikes (108), allowing half of the batters he faced to reach base, resulting in a staggering 15 runs over 8 2/3 innings. He attempted to integrate a new cutter into his pitching arsenal but largely abandoned it during the game, relying primarily on his fastball and splitter.

Despite the rough outing, Roberts confirmed that Sasaki would still take the mound for the Dodgers’ season opener against the Cleveland Guardians. “He’s got to go out there and attack hitters,” Roberts said, reflecting on the challenges faced by a pitcher working behind in counts. “We’re still trying to learn and get better, and acclimate. I believe in him, I really do.”

The Dodgers made a significant investment in Sasaki, the most sought-after pitcher last offseason, and they are committed to navigating these growing pains in hopes of long-term success. At just 24 years old, Sasaki is viewed as a cornerstone for the future, and the team is prepared to endure a bumpy start to reap the rewards down the line.

However, the stakes are about to rise as the regular season approaches. With competition in the National League West expected to be less fierce in the coming years, the Dodgers are betting on Sasaki to find his footing. “We’re going to run him out there,” Roberts affirmed. “I think that we’re gonna support him as much as we can, and then give him some runway, and then, once the season starts, then you gotta it’s about production.”

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.