Dodgers' Roki Sasaki Struggles in First Cactus League Start

Sasaki gives up three runs in shaky outing against Diamondbacks

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki struggled in his first Cactus League start, giving up three runs on three hits and two walks against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Sasaki said he felt good in the bullpen but had trouble finding the strike zone once he got on the mound. The 24-year-old is looking to cement his spot in the Dodgers' starting rotation this spring.

Why it matters

Sasaki emerged as a viable high-leverage relief option for the Dodgers late last season, but the team is hoping he can take the next step and become a mainstay in their starting rotation. His performance in spring training will be closely watched as he looks to build on his success from 2025.

The details

Sasaki gave up a hard-hit single to leadoff hitter Geraldo Perdomo, and then walked Tim Tawa. With one out, Nolan Arenado hit a line-drive double to left that scored Perdomo. Ildemaro Vargas followed with another double, scoring Tawa and Arenado for a 3-0 lead. Sasaki struck out Jordan Lawlar and Ryan Waldschmidt to end the inning, and then struck out Druw Jones leading off the second before walking Aramis Garcia and being removed from the game.

  • Sasaki's first Cactus League start was on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.

The players

Roki Sasaki

A 24-year-old right-handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers who is looking to cement his spot in the team's starting rotation this spring.

Mark Prior

The pitching coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Dave Roberts

The manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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What they’re saying

“There were some positive things, but also things I need to work on.”

— Roki Sasaki (via an interpreter)

“In the bullpen, I felt pretty good about the forkball but once I got on the mound, it didn't go well. And the four-seam, I felt pretty good in the bullpen but once I got on the mound, it felt a little off.”

— Roki Sasaki (via an interpreter)

“There's a lot of growth potential with Roki as a young player. It's important because we're expecting him to be good. He's expecting to be good, and to continue to get better. But Roki is still developing and he's not going to be fully developed by the season start, and that's to be expected.”

— Dave Roberts, Manager (latimes.com)

The takeaway

Sasaki's struggles in his first Cactus League start highlight the challenges he still faces in his development as a starting pitcher, but the Dodgers remain confident in his long-term potential and are committed to helping him refine his repertoire and command this spring.