"I don't see a world in which Roki Sasaki doesn't [open the season] as a starter. I guess I'm betting on the performance to continue to trend up, to be good enough, and to only get better with the talent that he has and the work that he's put in."
"Through his eight starts last season, Sasaki had a 4.72 ERA through 34.1 innings pitched while striking out just 24 batters. He fared much better in his role in the bullpen, allowing just a single run through 12.2 innings pitched."
"His spring has been rocky, having struggled in both of his brief starts so far in the Cactus League. He allowed three earned runs in 1.1 innings pitched during his first start of the spring against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and had an especially rough time against the Cleveland Guardians in his second outing of the year."
Roki Sasaki began his MLB career as a starter in 2025, making eight starts before transitioning to a full-time bullpen role where he performed significantly better. Despite struggling in spring training, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Sasaki will open the 2026 season as a starter. Roberts expressed confidence in Sasaki's talent and work ethic, betting that his performance will improve. Last season, Sasaki posted a 4.72 ERA as a starter but excelled in relief with just one run allowed in 12.2 innings. His spring has been challenging, with poor outings against Arizona and Cleveland, though he will continue preparing with a simulated game.
Read at Dodgers Nation
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