Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES — Roki Sasaki continues to make strides in his MLB debut season, and Saturday night’s start at Dodger Stadium was another step forward. In his second home outing, the 22-year-old right-hander went five strong innings, allowing just one run in the Dodgers’ otherwise embarrassing 16-0 loss to the Cubs.
Though he didn’t go as deep as he would’ve liked, Sasaki was pleased with the way he managed the game. “I’ve still got plenty of energy—it’s early in the season,” he said through interpreter Will Ireton. “But there’s more I can do within the pitch count I’ve been given. My goal is to keep myself in good condition so I can build toward throwing more innings.”
The only blemish on his line came on a home run after falling behind in the count. Sasaki admitted he missed his spot: “I wanted it inside, but it leaked over the plate. It was a strong fastball, but he was sitting on it after laying off the splitter.”
His splitter, a signature pitch back in Japan, continues to be a focus of his transition. “I don’t throw a ton of different pitches, so if the splitter turns into a clear ball, it makes things harder,” Sasaki explained. “I relied more on the slider late in the game, but if I can spot the fastball and control the splitter, my pitching will get a lot easier.”
One area where Sasaki showed progress was composure. “Compared to my first few starts, I felt much calmer,” he said. “Early on I didn’t have the best rhythm, but around the third batter I was able to recognize what wasn’t working and make an adjustment. That gave me more control over the rest of the outing.”
Sasaki also gave credit to catcher Austin Barnes, who has caught both of his Dodger Stadium starts. “I haven’t been totally stable myself, but having a veteran catcher like Barnes has helped. Still, it’s on me to be ready to execute the pitches he calls.”
There was even a moment of levity after the game when Miguel Rojas imitated Sasaki’s windup in the dugout. Sasaki’s review? “I’d give it 100 points,” he said with a smile.
With each outing, Sasaki is building confidence and gaining experience. And while he’s still adjusting, he knows exactly what he wants: “Today was a step in the right direction,” he said. “Now I want this to be my baseline—and keep pushing from here.”
Have you subscribed to the Bleed Los Podcast YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows & promotions, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
