Dodgers News: Roki Sasaki Shines in Latest Rehab Start, What’s Next?
Sasaki put together his best start in Triple-A on Tuesday...
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—Following a challenge from Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts last week, who stated the team needed to see more from 23-year-old Japanese right-hander Rōki Sasaki, the rookie responded by delivering his best start of his rehab stint with the Triple-A OKC Comets.
On Tuesday, Sasaki made his fifth minor league rehab appearance for the Comets, a start that was watched by many within the organization and fans alike.
Sasaki did not disappoint as the righty put together arguably his best outing of the season, tossing 4.2 strong innings where he allowed three hits, three earned runs, and collected eight punchouts, a total more than all of his previous starts combined.
While Sasaki’s command was off in the fifth inning, where he walked four batters and threw fifty-two of his ninety pitches for strikes, the numbers for Sasaki are what really jumped off the page.
His fastball was intense, averaging 98.5 mph and peaking at 100.6 mph, with three pitches over 100 mph in the first inning. His splitter had a 46% whiff rate, and his slider’s velocity improved from prior rehab starts, signaling a return to his standout form in Japan’s NPB.
It could have been a story of fatigue for Sasaki, as through the first four innings of his outing, the right-hander retired twelve of the first fifteen hitters he faced.
The results of those first few innings made their way to Dodger Stadium, where members of the media provided them to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who stated he was encouraged by the reported success and that he and the team would determine what the next steps were for the rookie.
Despite the late hiccup, the performance yesterday was a massive improvement for Sasaki compared to his first four minor league starts, where he posted a 7.07 ERA and a 1.79 WHIP across fourteen innings pitched.
It remains to be seen what Sasaki’s role with the team will be moving forward. With the option of Ben Casparius yesterday and the injury to Brock Stewart, the Dodgers bullpen could use Sasaki’s velocity and splitter in the bullpen as either a bulk guy or impact right-handed pitcher to face right-handed hitters.
If Sasaki is recalled, it’s hard to fit him in the current Dodgers starting rotation, which is currently six strong, led by Clayton Kershaw, Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Emmet Sheehan.
That group has led to a string of months for the rotation, which now ranks in the top three in fWAR since August 01st.
If I were a betting man, I’d say it’s more likely Sasaki stays in Triple-A as he continues to work on his mechanics and command and enters the 2026 season with a clean slate.
However, I could also see the Dodgers adding Sasaki back by next week for the stretch run.
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