Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki turned in what manager Dave Roberts called a “different animal” performance Friday night at Yankee Stadium, averaging a career-best 100.1 mph on his fastball in a 5 ⅔-inning gem that held the Yankees to one unearned run. The outing was a critical step for the 24-year-old phenom, as the Dodgers face decisions about their starting rotation with Blake Snell nearing a return from a rehab assignment.
Sasaki entered the game with a rotation-worst 5.33 ERA in the first half of the season, making his recent starts vital to maintaining his position. In the Dodgers' 2-1 victory over the Yankees, Sasaki showcased improved velocity and deceptive command, throwing 21 pitches at or above 100 mph, a career high for him as an MLB starter and the most by any Dodgers pitcher since pitch tracking began in 2008. His splitter also proved difficult for catchers, with Dalton Rushing noting its effectiveness.
“Very impressive. Gosh, I mean, the velocity, he dialed it up,” Roberts said after the game. “That was about as quality as we’ve seen him this year.”
Sasaki himself attributed the improvement to focusing on his lower body mechanics. “I reviewed how I use that part, and I think that went well,” he said through a translator. The pitcher also quipped that he was “upset I didn’t get an All-Star break, so I unleashed that.”
The performance against a legitimate contending team, even with Aaron Judge sidelined, was reminiscent of Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s own breakout start at Yankee Stadium. Roberts drew the comparison, noting how Sasaki’s velocity and command ticked up significantly.
From the outset, Sasaki’s stuff was notable. He recorded his hardest-ever pitch in MLB, a 101.8 mph fastball, against former MVP Paul Goldschmidt in the first inning. He followed with a 101.7 mph heater before fanning Goldschmidt with a slider in the dirt. This aggressive approach set the tone for his outing.
Sasaki escaped a jam in the third inning with a double-play grounder and, after surrendering the Dodgers' lone run in the fourth, which was aided by defensive miscues, he settled back in. He went blow-for-blow with former Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole before being removed after 94 pitches in the sixth inning.
While his season ERA dropped to 4.98, the outing encapsulated the potential the Dodgers have been waiting to see since signing him from Japan. The challenge now is to maintain this level of performance. "It's one game, so I can't say anything declarative," Sasaki acknowledged. "But it's the lower body. I reviewed how I use that part, and I think that went well."
Roberts expressed hope that Sasaki can build on this outing. "Hopefully, he continues to build on that and keeps getting confidence," he said. Catcher Dalton Rushing added, "Watching him compete on the mound, there was a little bit of a different animal out there tonight."
With Blake Snell beginning a rehab assignment this weekend, the Dodgers will soon need to make a decision about their starting rotation. Sasaki’s commanding performance at Yankee Stadium has provided a strong case for him to remain a key part of it.