Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki made his highly anticipated MLB debut at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, but his promising start was marred by inconsistency and errors. In a 41-pitch first inning, Sasaki walked four batters while recording only five outs, working a full count against half of the eight batters he faced. The Dodgers’ manager, Dave Roberts, described Sasaki’s performance as “all about learning,” emphasizing that the team believes in the young pitcher’s ability to develop.
Despite the struggles, the Dodgers’ potent offense rallied behind Freddie Freeman’s homer and Teoscar Hernández’s two-run double to secure a 7-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers. The win marked the Dodgers’ fifth straight overall and their first since 1981. Sasaki acknowledged that he needs time to work on his mechanics, saying, “I don’t expect myself to be able to fix everything in a short period of time.”
The team’s rotation is stacked with reinforcements on the horizon, including Tony Gonsolin and Clayton Kershaw, who are both expected to make their return from injuries soon. The Dodgers will need to be patient with Sasaki as he navigates the challenges of MLB pitching, but manager Dave Roberts remains confident in the young pitcher’s potential.
Sasaki is set to face a challenging test next week against the Philadelphia Phillies, one of the top projected lineups in the sport. With the team’s depth and Roberts’ guidance, Sasaki will have opportunities to figure things out through experience and development.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6241375/2025/03/30/roki-sasaki-growing-pains-dodgers