Roki Sasaki Shines Despite Loss

Don’t get too hung up on the final score.

The Dodgers’ six-game winning streak might have come to an end, and sure, Roki Sasaki’s innings count is a detail, but really, that stuff feels minor.

What matters is that in his tenth start this season, Sasaki seems to have found his fastball again, which could mean he’s starting to find himself, too.

In a 4-3 loss to the Phillies at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, Sasaki hit 160 mph twice, topping out at 160.4 mph with a pitch to JT Realmuto in the second inning.

Interestingly, the only other time he clocked 100 mph as a starter in the majors was during his debut against the Dodgers back in Japan last year.

Sasaki remarked in Japanese, “It was the game where I pitched the most like myself.”

By that, he means he now feels confident using his fastball as his primary weapon again. His fastball averaged 98.5 mph, which is quicker than his season average. Out of the 38 fastballs he threw, 14 exceeded 99 mph.

Sasaki lasted 5 1/3 innings, allowing just a single run that came from a home run by Alec Bohm in the second inning. That home run was one of only three hits off him, and he managed to strike out seven batters.

The specifics of the game didn’t overshadow how well he pitched.

There’s been an ongoing concern about his fastball velocity and control since 2024, which was his last season in Japan. Last year, he reached triple digits when he appeared in the bullpen late in his rookie year, but he faced challenges maintaining that speed this time around. Instead of dominating hitters as he used to, he found himself relying on trickery to get through games.

But Saturday changed that.

“Basically, what I was doing wasn’t much different from the last game,” Sasaki said. “I think my body movements are getting better and better.”

In the days leading up to this start, he made efforts to improve his fastball, though he admitted, “I didn’t expect it to improve this quickly.”

Manager Dave Roberts praised Sasaki’s dedication in the weight room. “One of our strength coaches, Travis Smith, has been training hard with Sasaki to build some mass and strength,” Roberts stated.

If Sasaki continues to develop into a strong starter, the Dodgers could find themselves excelling in the National League West sooner than anticipated.

During the third inning, facing Kyle Schwarber—last year’s National League home run champion—Sasaki was down 3-1. He fired off 99 mph fastballs one after another, resulting in Schwarber fouling the first and striking out on the second.

Sasaki commented, “It’s not great to constantly test your opponent’s strength, but my fastball was on point today.”

Later, in the sixth inning, he faced another three-ball count against Justin Crawford. He threw three straight fastballs clocking at 97.5 mph, 97.7 mph, and 99 mph, leading to another strikeout.

His control didn’t falter with the increased velocity, which he found reassuring. “When you’re throwing with power, it shows your delivery is solid,” he said. “It feels like I can control the ball a lot better.”

However, Sasaki wasn’t ready to declare victory just yet. “This is not the goal,” he stated.

After Crawford’s strikeout, Sasaki allowed hits to Schwarber and Trea Turner, prompting Manager Roberts to pull him from the game.

Alex Bashear came in and walked Bryce Harper to load the bases but managed to retire the next two batters, preserving the 2-1 lead he inherited.

When Bashear returned to the dugout, Sasaki shared a hug with him. Despite not winning this game, Sasaki had reasons to smile. He had won his previous two starts, although this one didn’t go his way.

At the very least, Sasaki has set a new standard to build upon. Perhaps even more significantly, after over two years of searching for his former self as a top pitching prospect, he might have recaptured a sense of identity. For that one night, it felt as if Roki Sasaki was back.

“For better or for worse, I was able to pitch the ball the way I wanted,” he concluded.