Despite the Dodgers loss, RHP Roki Sasaki showed improvements, throwing four innings of one run ball, after a rough Spring Training<\/p>\n
After a rough Spring Training, the young Los Angeles Dodgers showed positive signs in his first start.<\/p>\n
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\u2019t dominant, this is a massive step in the right direction after the 24-year-old posted a 15.58 ERA in Spring Training.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you don\u2019t have success, it\u2019s hard to have real confidence,\u201d Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts said. \u201cThat was certainly an honest admission. But when you perform, you start to have true confidence. Hopefully he can build on this one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roki Sasaki in his season debut<\/p>\n
4 IP \u2014 Blake Harris (@BlakeHHarris) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Sasaki threw 78 total pitches in the game, using a 97.6 MPH fastball \u2014 that peaked at 99.5 \u2014, 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.<\/p>\n However, the Guardians didn\u2019t make solid contact off Sasaki for most of the game, as they only had four hard-hit balls.<\/p>\n \u201cWe needed to get him in the zone early,\u201d Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing said. \u201cAnd 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Roki Sasaki fired off 4.0+ IP with 1 ER, 4K, and 2 BB<\/p>\n 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<\/a><\/p>\n
1 ER
4 H
2 BB
4 K
9 whiffs pic.twitter.com\/EqnzhkI6tc<\/a><\/p>\n