Steve Webb
PHILADELPHIA — Saturday night’s 3–1 win over the Phillies felt like more than just another tally in the W column—it felt like a coming-out party for rookie pitcher Roki Sasaki, and Dave Roberts’ postgame comments told us just how big a deal that really was.
Let’s start with the obvious: Roki needed this one. After two rocky starts to begin his MLB career, it was fair to wonder when we’d see the electric arm that had been hyped out of Japan. Roberts didn’t hide it—he admitted Roki “needed it,” even if the rookie wouldn’t say it himself. And boy, did he deliver. After giving up back-to-back hits in the first inning, Roki settled in, found his rhythm, and showed the poise the Dodgers have been waiting for.
Roberts pointed out how Sasaki got back on track by filling up the zone, throwing more consistent strikes, and using both his pitches well—particularly his fastball and signature splitter. The Phils were gearing up for the split, but Roki beat them with heaters, keeping hitters guessing and generating soft contact and whiffs all night.
“He kept his composure, his poise, and just kept executing pitches,” the Dodgers skipper said. “Austin [Barnes] did a great job with him today.”
This was also the first time Roki had pitched into the fifth inning in a major league game, which is why Doc lifted him after 68 pitches. It wasn’t a matter of stuff or fatigue—it was all about building him up the right way. “I think the next one… getting up to 80 pitches is very reasonable,” Roberts added. That’s exciting news for fans who are eager to see Sasaki go deeper.
Let’s not overlook the defense either. The turning point in the fifth inning came thanks to a gem of a play by Teoscar Hernández, who caught a fly ball and fired a laser to Kiké Hernández at first base to double off the runner and end the inning. Roberts called it a “huge double play” and highlighted another earlier moment from Kiké himself in the first, getting back on a tough grounder to take away a potential run.
Speaking of Kiké—what a strange but impactful start to the season he’s having. All three of his hits so far have been home runs. “It’s odd,” Roberts admitted with a laugh. “I like the slug… I think we’ll see some more hits though.” For now, we’ll take the clutch power, especially in tight games like this one.”
On the offensive side, Michael Conforto continues to prove that Roberts’ preseason “pick to click” was spot on. “I just felt that he was in a good place,” Doc said. “I still believe this is going to be his best year ever.” Busch’s consistent ABs and confident approach are making a real impact in this stacked lineup.
Another sneaky hero? Ben Casparius. With other bullpen arms still working their way back, casparius has become a reliable multi-inning reliever who can bridge the gap or eat up innings in a pinch. Roberts sees him as a “neutral guy” who can handle leverage and right-handers well. Pair him with Jack Dreyer, and suddenly this bullpen has some real depth beyond the usual high-leverage arms.
Even Tanner Scott, who had been working through some mechanical tweaks, seems to be back on track. Roberts praised the work of the pitching coaches and performance staff for helping Tanner clean up his delivery. And how about a rare three-pitch save? Scott’s sharp finish was the perfect cap on a solid team win.
And yes, in case you missed it—the guys have started mimicking one of Shohei Ohtani’s commercials as a dugout celebration. Roberts hadn’t noticed it yet, but he laughed when asked. “Well, Otani’s got a lot of sponsorships,” he said with a grin.
All told, this was the kind of game that shows why the Dodgers are dangerous: a young arm comes of age, the bullpen holds, the defense steps up, and timely homers (hello again, Kiké!) get the job done. It’s a team effort, and if Rōki continues to build off this outing, it’s just one more weapon in an already-loaded arsenal.
