The Los Angeles Dodgers are currently navigating significant challenges with pitcher Roki Sasaki, whose inability to consistently harness his considerable talent has led to a series of concerning outings. Despite showcasing flashes of frontline starter potential, Sasaki has struggled to replicate that success, prompting questions about the team's strategy for his development.
In his most recent start on Thursday night, a 12-7 victory over the San Diego Padres, Sasaki surrendered six runs in just three innings. This performance has contributed to a troubling 19 runs allowed over his last 17 innings pitched across four starts. Manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the team's predicament, stating that with Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow still on the injured list, Sasaki remains a necessary, albeit inconsistent, part of the rotation.
"I just don't think right now we have another alternative," Roberts said. He suggested that potential pitch-tipping might have played a role in the Padres' success against Sasaki, noting, "They were on everything Roki threw." However, Sasaki himself pointed to the quality of his own pitches as a contributing factor, saying, "I think the poor quality of pitches I threw was also a factor."
Sasaki's fastball velocity has also been a point of concern, failing to reach 100 mph in his last two starts, with his average dipping below 98 mph. This decrease in velocity may explain why pitches in the strike zone were hit hard, including two home runs given up to Manny Machado and Jake Cronenworth, as well as another to Jackson Merrill. All seven hits charged to Sasaki in the game were extra-base hits.
Catcher Dalton Rushing offered a perspective on Sasaki's struggles, calling it a "conviction thing" and a "mindset thing," emphasizing the need to "attack the strike zone." Roberts indicated that the team would be conducting a thorough review of Sasaki's performance, examining all aspects from velocity to potential pitch-tipping.
For now, the Dodgers are not considering a stint in the minor leagues or skipping Sasaki's turn in the rotation. The team allowed him to start games earlier in the season when he was also struggling, and they may opt to let him continue to work through his issues on the mound. This approach is partly motivated by a desire to recapture the form he showed in a late-May start against the Philadelphia Phillies, where he exceeded 100 mph with his fastball and maintained an average velocity above 98 mph over four consecutive starts.
With a 5.40 earned-run average, the clock is ticking for Sasaki. Once Snell and Glasnow return, the Dodgers may re-evaluate his role. Sasaki has until then to prove he can be a reliable asset, whether as a starter or a reliever, to be trusted in the postseason. His current volatility, however, makes him a difficult choice for any high-leverage situation.