Dodgers' Roki Sasaki shows promise after horrid spring training

Sasaki limits Guardians to one run in first start of the season after struggling in exhibition games

Mar. 31, 2026 at 10:33am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball pitcher's delivery broken down into overlapping geometric shapes in shades of blue and red, conveying the dynamic motion and energy of the sport.Sasaki's promising first start offers hope for the Dodgers' top pitching prospect after a difficult spring training.Los Angeles Today

After a disastrous spring training, Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki showed promise in his first start of the season, limiting the Guardians to one run while striking out four. Sasaki admitted he "didn't have confidence at all" heading into the game, but was able to settle down and pitch effectively through four innings.

Why it matters

Sasaki is the Dodgers' most talented pitching prospect, and his struggles in spring training had raised concerns about his readiness for the regular season. This strong outing is an encouraging sign that he may be able to overcome his early issues and become an effective member of the Dodgers' rotation.

The details

Sasaki's fastball reached 99.5 mph and his new cutter pitch generated a couple of strikeouts. His command wasn't perfect, but he was able to limit the Guardians' offense to just one run. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised Sasaki's rhythm and aggressiveness, saying he was more "in line" with his delivery. Catcher Dalton Rushing also gave Sasaki a pep talk before the game, reminding him of his past success and telling him to trust his stuff.

  • Sasaki had a disastrous spring training, with 26 of the 52 batters he faced reaching base.
  • In his final spring training outing last Monday, Sasaki hit a new low, walking three batters and hitting another before being removed in the first inning.
  • Sasaki made his first start of the regular season on Monday, April 3, 2026.

The players

Roki Sasaki

A highly touted pitching prospect for the Los Angeles Dodgers who struggled mightily in spring training but showed promise in his first regular season start.

Dave Roberts

The manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers who publicly urged Sasaki to stop worrying about his mechanics and focus on attacking hitters with his explosive arsenal.

Dalton Rushing

The Dodgers' 25-year-old backup catcher who gave Sasaki a pep talk before his first start, reminding him of his past success and telling him to trust his stuff.

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What they’re saying

“When you don't have success, it's hard to have real confidence. That was certainly an honest admission [ by Sasaki ] . But when you perform, you start to have true confidence. Hopefully he can build on this one.”

— Dave Roberts, Dodgers Manager

“I couldn't get through five innings, but the results overall felt pretty good. I kind of have confidence about that.”

— Roki Sasaki

“We needed to get him in the zone early. And as soon as he gets in the zone, his stuff played a little better. Obviously everyone loves to talk about the splitter, but to get swing and miss on the splitter, you have to establish the strike zone early.”

— Dalton Rushing, Dodgers Backup Catcher

What’s next

Sasaki will look to build on this strong outing in his next start, as the Dodgers hope he can establish himself as an effective member of their rotation.

The takeaway

Sasaki's performance in his first regular season start, after a disastrous spring training, is an encouraging sign that he may be able to overcome his early struggles and fulfill his potential as the Dodgers' top pitching prospect.