Dodgers Nation · Mar 24
Dodgers Reveal Backup Plan for Roki Sasaki’s First Start Amid Struggles
The Los Angeles Dodgers are entering the 2026 season with Roki Sasaki in the starting rotation, despite his struggles throughout Spring Training to throw strikes.
The Dodgers remain in support of Sasaki, believing that his stuff can translate to the highest level of MLB as it did during the 2025 postseason.
However, all the evidence points to another rough time adjusting to major-league hitting and to throwing strikes.
Sasaki pitched 8.2 innings of non-concurrent work during the spring, allowing 15 earned runs with two home runs, 15 walks, and just 12 strikeouts.