Despite the Dodgers loss, RHP Roki Sasaki showed improvements, throwing four innings of one run ball, after a rough Spring Training

After a rough Spring Training, the young Los Angeles Dodgers showed positive signs in his first start.

As the Dodgers fell to the Cleveland Guardians 4-2 last night, Roki Sasaki made his season debut, where he went four innings, allowing one run on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts. While he wasn’t dominant, this is a massive step in the right direction after the 24-year-old posted a 15.58 ERA in Spring Training.

“When you don’t have success, it’s hard to have real confidence,” Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts said. “That was certainly an honest admission. But when you perform, you start to have true confidence. Hopefully he can build on this one.”

Roki Sasaki in his season debut

4 IP
1 ER
4 H
2 BB
4 K
9 whiffs pic.twitter.com/EqnzhkI6tc

— Blake Harris (@BlakeHHarris) March 31, 2026

Sasaki threw 78 total pitches in the game, using a 97.6 MPH fastball — that peaked at 99.5 —, an 87.5 MPH cutter and an 85.8 MPH splitter. Command was still a struggle for Sasaki, though, as of the 78 pitches, only 45 were thrown for strikes.

However, the Guardians didn’t make solid contact off Sasaki for most of the game, as they only had four hard-hit balls.

“We needed to get him in the zone early,” Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing said. “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.”

Roki Sasaki fired off 4.0+ IP with 1 ER, 4K, and 2 BB

This outing was a lot cleaner than his Spring ones as Sasaki leaned heavily on his cutter to generate strikes. The fastball command is still shaky, but with enough support from his secondaries, he should remain effective pic.twitter.com/fTY1HGkwQi

— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) March 31, 2026

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The Guardians scored their only run off Sasaki in the third when Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan doubled off a cutter to drive in catcher Austin Hedges. In the seventh inning, Dodgers RHP Justin Wrobleski walked DH/1B Rhys Hoskins with the bases loaded before outfielder Daniel Schneemann as the Guardians led 4-0.

The Dodgers scored two in the ninth, but it wasn’t enough as the Guardians secured the victory in the first game of the series.

The Dodgers play the Guardians again tonight at 7:10 at Dodger Stadium.