The Los Angeles Dodgers may have a problem on their hands with starting pitcher Roki Sasaki and the first inning.
Sasaki got tagged again for four runs in the first inning before settling down and earning his first win of spring training in a 5-4 victory against the Cleveland Guardians.
Thus far in spring training, Sasaki has pitched to an 18.90 ERA over just 3 1/3 innings and has been tagged for seven runs — all in first innings of his starts.
He surrendered three runs in 1 1/3 innings in his first outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks before allowing a first-inning grand slam to Kyle Manzardo on Tuesday.
Roki Sasaki’s First-Inning Struggles Continue
Sasaki’s first innings were an issue in 2025, and even though he ironed out those issues while closing for the Dodgers in the postseason, he has not found the fix in the move back to LA’s rotation.
Sasaki did not record an out in the first inning Tuesday, sandwiching two walks around Bryan Rocchio’s single, before serving up an opposite-field, 375-foot homer to Manzardo.
He faced five batters before Roberts removed him before replacing him on the mound — in a only-in-spring-training move — before he returned to the hill for the second. Sasaki threw two perfect innings upon his return.
Roberts blasted Sasaki’s fastball command in his first outing, and that was a problem again in the first inning Tuesday. He threw just four of his 10 four-seam fastballs for strikes, did not get a swing and miss on the pitch and gave up the single and home run on his fastball.
“I wanted to see some fastball command, and I think he’s got to mix more with his secondary pitches,” Roberts said. “I’ve seen [fastball command] in [bullpen sessions] and lives. I think he’s really working hard and understands the value of [working hard].”
Roki Sasaki is Working on Mechanics, a New Pitch
Sasaki’s first-inning struggles may concern Dodgers fans, since he pitched to a 7.88 ERA in first innings in his rookie season.
But physically, Sasaki is feeling good, and he blamed his struggles on mechanical woes.
“I felt pretty good in the bullpen and even in the game,” Sasaki said through an interpreter. “I feel like my upper body was kind of leaning forward during my first two pitches, and I kind of raised up my upper body a little bit, and then my body kind of [felt] better and everything just clicked after that.
“My lower half actually felt pretty good. My upper body felt a little off, so I was kind of trying to make an adjustment.”
Roberts chalked up part of Sasaki’s struggles to working on a new pitch, which he compared to a cutter/slider combo.
“It’s kind of between the cutter-slider thing,” Roberts said. “It’s close. I’ve seen [him throw it] good in pens. But I think it’s one of those things that Roki’s just got to get the confidence to use that pitch, and we’ve got to call it.”
For Sasaki, confidence in his pitches and mechanics are still a work in progress.
“I’m actually working through a lot of mechanics in the offseason,” Sasaki said. “I still feel my whole body is a little bit off, so I try to make some adjustments.”
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