Dodgers vs. Guardians Recap: Sasaki battles command in win over Guardians
Spring Training Game 12, 3/3/2026: Dodgers 5, Guardians 4
GOODYEAR, AZ — Do NOT panic, Dodger fans. I need to you to maintain an even strain. A zen attitude, perhaps.
Yes, Roki Sasaki looked a mess in the first inning of Tuesday’s matchup with the Cleveland Guardians. Yes, it seemed like he couldn’t find the plate with a pair of binoculars. Yes, he gave up a grand slam and had to be pulled from the game before the first inning was even over.
Yes, all that is true. But I do NOT want you to freak out on me here. We gotta ride this thing out.
Here’s the thing. Sasaki is not sharp at this point in the spring (although he did redeem himself in later innings), and until he IS sharp, this is the result that we’re going to get. So there’s that.
The Horrible First
Here’s how it all went down. After Guardian starter Joey Cantillo faced the minimum in the top of the first, Roki came out for the bottom of the frame. It started rough right away. A four-pitch walk to Steven Kwan. Then, Brayan Rocchio singled on a center-cut fastball to put two men on. Another walk loaded up the bases. That brought up Kyle Manzardo. He got another tasty four-seamer in his wheelhouse and completely obliterated the pitch, sending it over the fence in left center for a grand slam. Not what you want.
The bleeding went on for one more hitter before Dave Roberts pulled the plug. Sasaki walked David Fry on five pitches and it was El Bencho for him. For a while anyway.
Redemption in the 2nd and 3rd
Because Spring Training rules allow a pitcher to return to a game after being lifted, Sasaki was back out there in the bottom of the second. And after the initial shock of that first inning wore off, things went a whole lot better. He got two strikeouts in a 1-2-3 second, and then retired the side in order in a 12-pitch third inning.
So for the day, it was one horror show inning. Two crisp and clean ones. So, yay, I guess? Sasaki’s line for the day: 2.0 IP (no outs recorded in the first), 2 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K. 45 total pitches for 21 strikes. Suffice it to say, it’s a work in progress for this dude. Keep watching this space and we’ll see what happens going forward.
Dodgers Get Off the Mat
While fans were busy handing-wringing, the Dodgers were busy getting back in the game. They cut the lead in half on a two-run dong from Miguel Rojas (No way! Miguel Rojas!) in the third, and then got a three-bagger from Zach Ehrhard to score two more in the fourth. When the next hitter Ryan Ward singled through a drawn-in infield, the Dodgers suddenly found themselve proud possessors of a 5-4 lead as the game reached its midpoint. Quite a turn of events from how it started.
Pitching-wise things got a whole lot calmer after the first as well. After Sasaki dusted himself and pitched a clean second and third, River Ryan came in and threw up as zero in the next two innings (ya gotta like it). He walked one Guardian, but didn’t give up any hits while striking out three. It’s not likely to happen right away, but Ryan’s on course to get some starts in 2026. Watching that space with great interest. Tanner Scott didn’t look quite as sharp but put a zero on the scoreboard in the sixth. And then Dave Roberts handed the ball to folk hero Will Klein, who struck out two of his own in the seventh. Prospect Antoine Kelly looked good in a 1-2-3 eighth and farmhand Rowan Kopp finished off the unlikely win with a scoreless ninth.
Overall a good day for Dodger pitchers. As long as you ignore the first 30 minutes of the ballgame.
If You Have a Sombrero…
Next up for the Dodgers (9-3), a game that a lot of fans have had circled on the calendar since it was announced. An exhibition against Team Mexico before the Mexican squad begins WBC play later in the week. With the Dodgers’ fan base, there’s sure to be some split loyalty in the stands, and more than a few green and red hats. Tyler Glasnow will be pitching for the Dodgers. It will be a good temperature check for Alejandro Kirk, Jarren Duran, and the rest of Team Mexico. And for the Dodgers fans anyway, it will be a whole lot more than a typical Wednesday in early March. 12:05 first pitch. See you there!
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