The Los Angeles Dodgers are giving RHP Roki Sasaki another chance in the starting rotation as they have confirmed throughout spring training he will be a starter to begin the 2026 season

The Los Angeles Dodgers are giving their 24-year-old another shot.

Despite his struggles this Spring Training, Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts confirmed RHP Roki Sasaki will start the season in the starting rotation.

“Roki is an extremely talented young starting pitcher and there is still development left – as there is with a lot of talented young players,” said Andrew Friedman, Dodgers president of Baseball Operations.

Sasaki pitched in the World Baseball Classic this year, despite competing in 2023, so he’s spent all of Spring Training with the Dodgers, but has struggled. Across 6.2 IP between three starts, Sasaki has allowed nine hits and struggled with command, walking nine batters to a 13.50 ERA, but he also has 10 strikeouts.

Roki Sasaki strikes out Gavin Cross in three pitches! pic.twitter.com/EcDnqkwo3h

— Hyeseong Kim Muse 김혜성 (@HyeseongKimMuse) March 18, 2026

The Dodgers and Roberts all Spring Training have confirmed Sasaki will be on the major league team and part of the rotation — not the bullpen — to start the season, and haven’t ever given any indication it’s even up for debate. Dylan Hernandez of the California Post recently reported Sasaki agreed to move into a bullpen role late in the 2025 season under the condition he’d have a starting role in 2026.

“For us, as we are trying to balance our roster looking into 2026 and beyond, and we are trying to integrate talented young players onto our roster, we’re going to have to approach it with some patience and be really mindful of short-term and long-term goals,” Friedman said.

Sasaki responded to the fans calling for him to be moved to the bullpen or start in Triple-A when he said his goal is to pitch a full season in 2026.

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“If I’m able to pitch the entire season, I don’t think anyone will remember spring training,” Sasaki said.

Roki Sasaki vs. White Sox Minor Leaguers: 4 innings, 1 hit, 0 walks, 1 HBP, 9 strikeouts, 59 pitches (40 strikes) pic.twitter.com/k1LRJ4q6pT

— Sonja Chen (@SonjaMChen) March 10, 2026

Sasaki was MLB’s number one prospect heading into the 2025 season, but didn’t necessarily live up to that hype. During the 2025 regular season, Sasaki had a 1-1 record with a 4.46 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 36.1 IP across 10 starts, which included eight starts. He also spent the majority of the season on the injured list.

In the postseason, though, Sasaki was moved to the bullpen, but was a big part of the Dodgers’ World Series run. Across nine appearances, Sasaki had a 0.84 ERA with a save in games one and two of the NLDS and game three of the NLCS, while also pitching in games three and six of the World Series.