The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the 2025 season with two targets: to repeat as World Sequence champions and to develop Roki Sasaki on the main league degree.
Thus far, so good for the primary aim. The Dodgers entered Saturday at 26-13, tied with the Detroit Tigers for the best record within the majors. As pitchers resembling Clayton Kershaw, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow start to work their means again from the injured list, the Dodgers can be far more formidable quickly.
The identical can’t be mentioned for Sasaki’s transition to the majors. Pitching on 5 days’ relaxation for the first time this season, and with the roof open at Chase Discipline, Sasaki was walloped within the Dodgers’ eventual 14-11 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks Friday night time. He allowed 5 runs on 5 hits, together with a pair of house runs and two walks in four-plus innings, failing to strike out a batter.
Sasaki had displayed indicators of progress earlier than Friday’s outing. He had lasted at the least 5 innings in his earlier 4 begins, posting a 3.74 ERA and a 1.200 WHIP over 21.2 innings, hanging out 15 batters with 9 walks. Sasaki will not be dominating, however he acquired higher every begin.
Friday was a step again. He struggled from the outset, permitting two homers within the first inning. Sasaki’s fastball was an issue once more as he threw 36 fastballs with out producing a whiff on 12 swings in opposition to. He averaged simply 94.7 MPH with the fastball, his lowest velocity of the season.
Whereas it’s straightforward to level to the shorter relaxation for Sasaki’s struggles vs. the D-backs, his fastball has been an ongoing concern. His 10.14% whiff charge on his four-seamer is the sixth worst of any starting pitcher to throw at the least 100 fastballs. Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register reported that Sasaki is uncertain why his fastball is lower than expectations, saying via his interpreter that he and the Dodgers are “nonetheless in [the] strategy of discovering out what the foundation trigger” is.
Time is just not on Sasaki’s aspect. The Dodgers’ pitching employees will return vital items within the rotation shortly. In the meantime, Los Angeles will try and fend off the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants for the NL West crown. Except Sasaki and the Dodgers determine his fastball woes, a trek to the minors could also be in his future.
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