The 99MPH power arm is in jeopardy! The excitement was real when Roki Sasaki signed his contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Renowned for his scorching fastball and precise control, the 23-year-old Japanese prodigy was praised as the next great thing in MLB. Some even compared him to Paul Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates ace who had rocked the game. However, as April wrapped up, the narratives changed.
Sasaki’s move to MLB has been anything but seamless. The next big thing turned into disappointment. His 3.55 ERA and 0-1 record in the first six outings made him underwhelming. More troubling, though, is his control—or lack thereof. Sasaki has walked 18 times against 20 strikeouts over 25.1 innings, giving him a WHIP of 1.42. These figures are far from the control he showed in Japan, when he had a 2.35 ERA and a 1.036 WHIP in 2024.
And did you think that analysts won’t notice this slump? That’s not how things go in the MLB world.
Speaking to MLB.com, an American League official didn’t hold back, “He was seemingly being lauded as the next [Paul] Skenes, and that has not been the case so far. The walks have been surprising.” This criticism emphasizes Sasaki’s difficulties adjusting to MLB’s competitive environment.
But it’s not the first time Roki Sasaki has gotten a backlash from MLB experts. Jim Bowden advised the LA Dodgers to move him to the minors if he didn’t perform well. “But if he doesn’t handle it well, you can’t be afraid to do one of two things. One option is to send him out to Triple-A. Let him go to the minors. Not under the big lights, and let him figure out how to control and command, add, subtract, own the strike zone. Pitch more like a real estate agent. The other option you have at some point is it’s okay if you want to put him in your bullpen. You’re going to limit his innings anyway.”
Roki Sasaki’s performance is indeed a challenge for the Dodgers. Conversely, Skenes’ numbers are shining. The 22-year-old has a 3-3 record with a 2.74 ERA in seven games this season, striking out 41 batters and only eight walks over 42.2 innings, producing a great WHIP of 0.91. His command and composure on the mound have confirmed his position as one of the league’s top young pitchers.
With that comparison, Sasaki’s struggles are visible, and the Dodgers won’t need that with the pitching staff already in question. Why? The walk rate was 12.9% as of mid-April; Boys in Blue are not known for this. The Sasaki stats are also a point of concern. Now, the question is: Will the Dodgers look for some adjustments or wait for Roki Sasaki’s magic with so many games left?
Dodgers rotation in flux: Roki Sasaki struggles
The first month has thrown some curveballs to the Boys in Blue. How did they tackle? Not quite well. Key starters Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are out with shoulder problems. Undoubtedly, the Los Angeles Dodgers are in a difficult situation. This situation has led the team to think about changing the rest timetables of their Japanese pitchers, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki, from six to five days. That’s what the team management is thinking.
Manager Dave Roberts noted, “That’s a conversation as well. We did it with Yamamoto last year, right around this time. It’s another thought as far as given the amount of games we have in a row to have them have less rest in between starts.”
Over 34 innings in six starts, Yamamoto has shown tenacity and flexibility, with a 3-2 record, 1.06 ERA, 43 strikeouts, and 1.00 WHIP. His past with a five-day rest plan in the last season sets him up nicely for this possible change.
On the other hand, Sasaki, who has been throwing once a week according to his NPB schedule, may find the higher frequency difficult, particularly as he keeps adjusting to MLB batters. Sasaki’s first six starts saw him go 0-1 with a 3.55 ERA, 20 strikeouts, and a 1.42 WHIP across 25.1 innings. With those numbers, and to strengthen the position, they are looking to fix it.
Given these rotation changes, the Dodgers are also looking at internal possibilities to strengthen their pitching staff. Having pitched 3.2 scoreless innings with five strikeouts in a recent game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Ben Casparius has surfaced as a hopeful contender. Roberts said, “I wouldn’t say on the regular, but I think in one conversation, it’s potentially build up Casparius. We’re just not sure yet.”
Despite rotation issues, the Dodgers are still in a good position in the NL West, leading with a 21-10 record. Players like Yamamoto and Casparius exemplify the clubhouse’s resilience. Now, as the season unfolds, the Dodgers must carry the momentum and solve their rotation quest.
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