Los Angeles Dodgers starter Roki Sasaki’s rough start to the season has fans questioning whether or not he’s still fit to start.
The right-hander has made four starts this season, and has a 6.11 ERA through 17.2 innings pitched. He’s allowed multiple runs in his last three starts, and has especially found trouble in avoiding issuing walks. Three of his four starts have resulted in a Dodgers loss, and he’s showing very minimal improvement from start to start.
The Dodgers, though, are prepared to give him plenty of leeway as the season progresses, per The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya.
“Sasaki will continue to start until the Dodgers no longer believe he is a viable option there long-term,” Ardaya wrote. “Emphasis on long-term. I don’t think anyone thinks the Sasaki experience as a starter has gone well. But it has been 12 career big-league starts, and the Dodgers have the luxury of rolling him out there in hopes something clicks without it affecting their ability to compete for a spot in October.”
It’s clear this is the Dodgers’ stance as far as this issue is concerned, as the coaching staff and front office have supported Sasaki through this rough stretch the whole way and avoided any talks of taking him out of the rotation.
The Dodgers don’t have a full strength rotation at the moment, but Sasaki is set to keep his spot despite top players coming back.
Manager Dave Roberts made it clear earlier in the season the Dodgers wouldn’t move Sasaki back to relief when starter Blake Snell makes his return from injury.
“When Blake comes back, Roki will not be in the bullpen,” Roberts said.
General manager Brandon Gomes also holds the right-hander in high regard, and believes there’s still more to come from Sasaki.
“To have done what he was able to do in Japan at this age and there’s room to get better, it’s really exciting and impressive,” Gomes said.
The Dodgers have Roki Sasaki pitching over the weekend against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday, their second game back after returning from their seven-game road trip.
LA lost their fourth game of the trip and second game in a row against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, bringing their record to 16-8. They’re tied for first place in the division with the San Diego Padres, and will look to finish strong and salvage something from the series in the third game of the set, which comes Thursday at 12:45 p.m. PT.
Do you think Roki Sasaki still has time to turn things around this year? What should the Dodgers’ plan with him be?