PHOENIX — Friday night’s game in Phoenix was a rollercoaster, and for Rōki Sasaki, the ride had more downs than ups. The rookie phenom took the mound with electric potential but struggled to find his rhythm, failing to record a strikeout over 20 batters and exiting the game in the fourth. Still, he left with a lead—and the Dodgers offense made sure it didn’t go to waste.
After the game, Sasaki was candid about his performance. “I just didn’t have that extra strength on my fastball today,” he said. “Even though I hit my spots a couple of times, the ball didn’t have the power it usually does. The first batter, I hit the target, but the pitch just didn’t have life. The second hitter, I was going inside and left a weak pitch over the plate. That’s why it got hit.”
Sasaki said his preparation leading up to the start didn’t feel much different, even with the team’s travel across time zones. “I was on normal rest and threw a bullpen three days before, same as always,” he explained. “The timing didn’t feel off, and I don’t think the schedule had a big effect on my performance today.”
Still, something felt off once he got into the game. “Even during warmups in the bullpen, I didn’t feel like I could throw with full strength,” Sasaki admitted. “I’m not sure if that was an adjustment issue or something else, but I went into the game as-is and started feeling better midway through. The velocity picked up a little, but it was still a struggle.”
The Dodgers gave him early run support, and when Sasaki left the game, they were ahead. But watching from the bench as the bullpen surrendered the lead was tough. “It was a high-scoring game and a hard one to watch after coming out,” he said. “I felt a sense of responsibility because it was a game I should have locked down. We had the lead. I needed to do better.”
Despite the frustration, Sasaki gave credit to his teammates for picking him up. “The team really came through,” he said. “Even though I couldn’t hold my end of it, they kept fighting and found a way to win. That was huge.”
When asked if the long travel week affected his conditioning or routine, Sasaki said no. “I don’t think the travel from east to west really had much of an impact,” he noted. “I got good rest, didn’t feel any fatigue, and physically I felt okay.”
Ultimately, Sasaki took accountability for the performance but remained focused on the team result. “My pitching just wasn’t good today,” he said. “I take responsibility for that. But the fact that the team won—that’s the most important thing.”
The Dodgers’ offense turned what could have been a frustrating night into a statement win. And though Sasaki didn’t have his best stuff, the support from the bats—and the lessons learned—will help him as he looks ahead to his next outing.
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!
