The Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernandez reacts after striking out during the fourth inning of a game against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki throws to the plate during the first inning of a game against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts, left, prepares to catch the ball as the Cleveland Guardians’ Jose Ramirez slides into second base during the first inning on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki throws to the plate during the first inning of a game against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Parker Messick throws to the plate during the first inning of a game against the Dodgers on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani reacts after hitting a single during the first inning of a game against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, left, bumps helmets with Dodgers first base coach Chris Woodward after hitting a single during the first inning of a game against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani takes some of his protective gear off after hitting a single during the first inning of a game against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki throws to the plate during the second inning of a game against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani stretches in the dugout during the second inning of a game against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki throws to the plate during the second inning of a game against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. Sasaki allowed one run in four-plus innings in a 4-2 loss. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Parker Messick takes a breath between batters during the third inning of a game against the Dodgers on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani practices his swing while on deck during the third inning of a game against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Parker Messick throws to the plate during the third inning of a game against the Dodgers on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani sits in the dugout during the fourth inning of a game against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
The Cleveland Guardians’ Angel Martinez, left, slides into second base as Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts runs toward the ball during the fifth inning on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
The Cleveland Guardians’ Angel Martinez, left, slides into second base as Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts runs toward the ball during the fifth inning on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki walks off the field after he was removed during the fifth inning of a game against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Dodgers relief pitcher Tanner Scott throws to the plate during the fifth inning of their game against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki looks out from the dugout during the fifth inning of a game against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman walks off the field after the top of the fifth inning of a game against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani reacts as he walks back to the dugout after striking out during the sixth inning of a game against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
The Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas runs to first base during their game against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani sits in the dugout during the sixth inning of a game against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Dodgers relief pitcher Justin Wrobleski throws to the plate during the sixth inning of their game against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
The Cleveland Guardians’ Brayan Rocchio (4) greets teammates Angel Martinez (1) and Steven Kwan (38) after they scored during the seventh inning of a game against the Dodgers on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Dodgers relief pitcher Justin Wrobleski reacts as he rubs up a new baseball during the seventh inning of their game against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernandez rounds second base as he runs from first to third during the seventh inning of a game against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Dodgers star Mookie Betts hits an RBI double during the ninth inning of their game against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman hits an RBI groundout during the ninth inning of their game against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts is greeted by teammates in the dugout after scoring during the ninth inning of a game against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani sits in the dugout during the ninth inning of a game against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Cade Smith, left, and catcher Austin Hedges embrace after a 4-2 victory over the Dodgers on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Cleveland Guardians second baseman Brayan Rocchio, left, and left fielder Steven Kwan celebrate after a 4-2 victory over the Dodgers on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
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The Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernandez reacts after striking out during the fourth inning of a game against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
LOS ANGELES — If Roki Sasaki is very much a work in progress, the Dodgers finally didn’t have to squint and strain the imagination to see some signs of progress.
After an erratic spring training that raised questions about his place in the Dodgers’ starting rotation, Sasaki made his season debut Monday night and quieted the questions (for now). The young right-hander pitched into the fifth inning, allowing just one run on four hits and two walks while striking out four.
But rookie left-hander Parker Messick and two relievers combined to shut the Dodgers out for eight innings as the Cleveland Guardians handed the Dodgers their first loss of the season, 4-2, on Monday night.
“I actually didn’t have confidence at all before this game started,” Sasaki admitted through his interpreter. “But I was just focusing on doing what I can control.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called Sasaki’s outing “a good step in the right direction,” one that should help his confidence.
“I think it should be a big boost to his confidence,” Roberts said. “And I think he’s being honest with you guys in the sense of he’s a confident player. But when you don’t have success it’s hard to have real confidence. That was certainly an honest admission. But when you perform, you start to have true confidence. So hopefully he can build on this one.”
Sasaki ran a 3-and-1 count on the first batter he faced but came back to strike out Steven Kwan and retired six of the first seven batters he faced. Austin Hedges led off the third inning with a double and scored two batters later on Kwan’s double.
Sasaki walked the next batter but settled back down and got through four innings without giving up another run. When Angel Martinez led off the fifth with a single, Roberts pulled Sasaki.
“I thought that was a quality start for Roki. It was a good turnaround coming off of spring,” said Dalton Rushing, who got the start at catcher on Monday. “The emphasis was to hit the zone early and fill up the zone as much as possible, and then from there you can get swing and miss.”
Tanner Scott gave up another single to Kwan but stranded runners at second and third.
Still, that put the Dodgers in the trail position for a fourth consecutive game to start the season. This time, the offense was stuck in neutral for too long.
Messick kept the Dodgers off balance with a six-pitch mix ranging from 77 mph (his curveball) to 92.8 (his fastball average).
“He’s a good pitcher. He had a good season debut,” Rushing said, offering faint praise for Messick. “You don’t roll through a lineup like this and limit them to no runs for however many he went (six). He threw his tail off. He looked really good tonight. Sometimes you gotta tip the cap, but at the same time we’d like to see him again.”
The Dodgers put runners on base in four of the first five innings against Messick but hit into two double plays – one a line drive by Muncy to the first baseman – and, most costly, had a runner picked off second base.
Miguel Rojas led off the third inning with a double. Rushing’s popped-up sacrifice bunt attempt turned into a base hit when a tumbling Messick couldn’t make a play, putting two runners on with no outs for Shohei Ohtani.
But Rojas was picked off second (a call made by replay review). Ohtani flew out to center field and Kyle Tucker struck out.
“I thought they pitched us well tonight,” Roberts said. “A couple at-’em balls that turned into double plays I felt could have changed the inning or the game. The Muncy ball. The Miggy Ro ball. But you’ve got to give those guys credit.”
Rojas was the only Dodger to even make it to second base until they put runners at the corners with two outs in the seventh inning. Muncy stranded them both by striking out against Guardians reliever Erik Sabrowski.
By then, the Guardians had expanded on their early 1-0 lead. They loaded the bases with no outs against Justin Wrobleski in the top of the seventh. Wrobleski nearly escaped. He got a pair of pop outs to keep the runners in place but walked Rhys Hoskins to force in a run (after being ahead 0-and-2 in the count) and gave up a two-run double to Daniel Schneemann that made it 4-0.
“I think he started to overthrow. He was kind of 94-95, and then he’s touching 97 in that Hoskins at-bat, missing,” Roberts said.
The Dodgers avoided the shutout in the ninth inning when Tucker beat out an infield single, went first-to-third on a pitch that got away from Guardians catcher Hedges and scored on a double by Mookie Betts. Betts scored on a ground out by Freddie Freeman before the Guardians closed it out.
Four games into the season (two against left-handed starting pitchers), the trio of lefties in the top half of the Dodgers’ lineup – Ohtani, Tucker and Freeman – are a combined 8 for 43 (.186). Ohtani is still looking for his first extra-base hit of the season.
“I am surprised that they got off to a slow start, but you just never really know,” Roberts said. “Spring training is just not predictive. It’s just not. I think for me, the takeaway is we’re 3-1 and the guys that we expect to swing the bats aren’t swinging the bats right now. So that’s a good thing. They’ll hit.”