Dodgers Fans Demand Roki Sasaki Move to Bullpen

Plaschke argues star pitcher should embrace relief role to maximize impact

Apr. 17, 2026 at 11:09pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's delivery broken down into overlapping planes of bright blue, red, and white, conveying the raw power and energy of Roki Sasaki's pitching motion.Sasaki's electric stuff could make him a dominant force out of the Dodgers' bullpen.Los Angeles Today

After a dominant relief outing, Los Angeles Dodgers fans are calling for the team to move star pitcher Roki Sasaki to the bullpen full-time, despite his success as a starter. Columnist Bill Plaschke argues that Sasaki would be more valuable to the team in a relief role, where he can maximize his electric stuff and dominate hitters in short bursts.

Why it matters

Sasaki is one of the Dodgers' most prized young arms, and the team has been reluctant to move him out of the starting rotation. However, Plaschke believes Sasaki's skill set is better suited for the bullpen, where he can be a game-changing weapon for the Dodgers as they chase a World Series title.

The details

In a recent outing, Sasaki came out of the bullpen and struck out 8 batters in just 2 innings, drawing loud chants from the Dodger Stadium crowd. Sasaki's manager praised the performance, calling it one of the best he's ever seen. But Plaschke argues that Sasaki should embrace the bullpen role, where he can dominate hitters with his elite stuff rather than trying to pace himself as a starter.

  • Sasaki had a dominant relief outing on April 16, 2026.

The players

Roki Sasaki

A star pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers who has found success as both a starter and a reliever.

Bill Plaschke

A columnist for the Los Angeles Times who is advocating for the Dodgers to move Sasaki to the bullpen full-time.

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What they’re saying

“Fans chanted his name. Teammates toasted his name. His manager deified his name, claiming he had just unleashed one of the greatest bullpen performances in baseball history.”

— Bill Plaschke, Columnist

What’s next

The Dodgers will have to decide whether to keep Sasaki in the starting rotation or move him to the bullpen on a full-time basis.

The takeaway

Roki Sasaki's dominant relief outing has sparked a debate about whether the Dodgers should maximize his impact by moving him to the bullpen, where his electric stuff could make him a game-changing weapon for the team's World Series aspirations.