It’s somewhat ironic that Aki Sasaki has only looked like a true MLB pitcher when facing minor league hitters this season.
During spring training, he struck out nine batters in just four innings in a minor league matchup. That performance has left the Dodgers a bit perplexed about his progress. He’s clearly too talented for minor league baseball but hasn’t quite found his footing in the majors.
With Blake Snell sidelined, the front office has had some breathing room to avoid making any hasty decisions about Sasaki’s role. However, that might change soon, as Snell practiced over the weekend and could be back by the month’s end.
The Dodgers have suggested that Major League Baseball will serve as Sasaki’s learning ground instead of the typical Double-A or Triple-A options. This strategy seems to have the backing of Manager Dave Roberts.
That said, Sasaki has struggled through three starts this season, showing a level of inconsistency that echoes his earlier performances. “There’s a part of me that can, more or less, pre-calculate the results we’ll get now,” Sasaki shared in Japanese.
In his most recent outing, he pitched four innings in a 5-2 loss to the Rangers. He had trouble locating his pitches, allowing five walks and ten base runners. They were fortunate to give up just two runs, which some might say reflects a mediocre performance from the Rangers’ batting lineup.
While he set a personal best with six strikeouts, it’s hard to celebrate that when it highlights how challenging his transition has been since moving from Japan.
Clearly, Sasaki is lagging behind the other five starters on the Dodgers, including Emmett Sheehan and Justin Robleski. Sheehan managed to go six innings against the same Rangers team, while Robleski conceded just one run over five innings in his start. In his last game prior to this, Sasaki pitched five innings but allowed six runs.
With little sign of improvement, the team is scrambling to find silver linings in Sasaki’s performance. “What stands out is that he limited the damage. Even after he left the game, we were still in a good position to win,” Roberts said.
The Dodgers were just one run down when they lost four relief pitchers, including Edgardo Enriquez and Will Klein. This was largely because Sasaki had already thrown 94 pitches, surpassing what Rangers starter Jacob deGrom threw over six innings.
“I’ve pitched four, five, and four innings in my three starts, so I’ve never pitched that many innings,” Sasaki remarked. “We can’t put that kind of burden on the relievers.”
From the outset, he faced challenges. Two batters reached base right away, and when All-Star Corey Seager stepped up, Sasaki threw a low-fastball that, surprisingly, Seager missed. He managed to escape that jam by striking out the subsequent two batters.
The Rangers had opportunities to score but didn’t capitalize. Evan Carter eventually homered, while four batters reached safely, allowing them to break the ice and score two runs in the third inning.
“I simply don’t think things are going well from a technical standpoint,” Sasaki admitted. “All I can do is make it right.”
According to his manager, Sasaki has the potential to prove himself in front of large crowds in the majors. Roberts recalled a game in spring training where Sasaki dominated a White Sox minor league lineup.
“If he could replicate that performance every time, I believe he could thrive at this level,” Roberts said. “At the MLB level, whether during spring training or poor outings, he’s made some costly mistakes that most hitters wouldn’t forgive. If he gets his mechanics down, his pitches become far harder to connect with.”
The Dodgers’ faith in Sasaki will certainly be put to the test soon. He had an unimpressive 15.88 ERA during the exhibition season, and his ERA stands at 6.23 in the first three regular-season games.
His next start is likely to take place at Colorado’s Coors Field, known as a challenging venue for pitchers.
