How should the Dodgers be encouraged after Roki Sasaki’s first start?
Yahoo Sports senior MLB analysts Jordan Shusterman and Jake Mintz look at the 2026 debut pitching for Roki Sasaki after a disastrous Spring Training. Hear the full dialog on the “Baseball Bar-B-Cast” podcast – and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you hear.
Video Transcript
Yeah, he was method higher than I or most individuals anticipated.
Yeah, he was method higher than I or most individuals anticipated.
Roqui was coming off a disastrous spring coaching.
Roqui was coming off a disastrous spring coaching.
We’re speaking ERA that begins with one and a 4.
We’re speaking ERA that begins with one and a 4.
No, one and a 5.
No, one and a 5.
He was terrible in spring.
He was terrible in spring.
He did not should be in the rotation.
He did not should be in the rotation.
The Dodgers have been preserving him there partially out of loyalty for him selecting them in the first place, partially in order that I assume they might keep watch over him and assist him develop, they usually have been ready to do this as a result of the Dodgers are going to fall ass backwards into 95 wins as a result of their crew is so good.
The Dodgers have been preserving him there partially out of loyalty for him selecting them in the first place, partially in order that I assume they might keep watch over him and assist him develop, they usually have been ready to do this as a result of the Dodgers are going to fall ass backwards into 95 wins as a result of their crew is so good.
And so he rolled on the market, for his first begin, and I used to be texting individuals like, “Hey, over under five and a half outs.”
And so he rolled on the market, for his first begin, and I used to be texting individuals like, “Hey, over under five and a half outs.”
And Roqui was nice.
And Roqui was nice.
He labored into the fifth inning, accomplished 4.
He labored into the fifth inning, accomplished 4.
There have been bouts of wildness.
There have been bouts of wildness.
I feel that if he was dealing with a greater lineup, it might have gone worse.
I feel that if he was dealing with a greater lineup, it might have gone worse.
There have been a ton of non-competitive pitches.
There have been a ton of non-competitive pitches.
But the massive improvement for him was the introduction of a 3rd pitch that appears to be fairly sticky.
But the massive improvement for him was the introduction of a 3rd pitch that appears to be fairly sticky.
I feel he is gonna maintain that cutter round.
I feel he is gonna maintain that cutter round.
It’s an odd pitch.
It’s an odd pitch.
It’s extra like up and down than you normally see from a cutter, however he simply wanted one other providing to maintain guys off steadiness, maintain them off the fastball and the break up.
It’s extra like up and down than you normally see from a cutter, however he simply wanted one other providing to maintain guys off steadiness, maintain them off the fastball and the break up.
All issues thought of, this was undoubtedly a step in the proper course.
All issues thought of, this was undoubtedly a step in the proper course.
He seemed like a significant league pitcher, which he hadn’t in spring coaching, and he did not for giant swaths of final season.
He seemed like a significant league pitcher, which he hadn’t in spring coaching, and he did not for giant swaths of final season.
Yeah, the, the third pitch is all the pieces.
Yeah, the, the third pitch is all the pieces.
Well, it is not all the pieces as a result of the fastball command nonetheless has to enhance, and he has to determine a method to- Yeah land a splitter to some extent as nasty as the motion actually is.
Well, it is not all the pieces as a result of the fastball command nonetheless has to enhance, and he has to determine a method to- Yeah land a splitter to some extent as nasty as the motion actually is.
however that was a pitcher you could work with.
however that was a pitcher you could work with.
Something tangible modified you could construct off.
Something tangible modified you could construct off.
I feel that’s the significance of the cutter.
I feel that’s the significance of the cutter.
You’re not simply going again and making an attempt the similar factor again and again to, to no impact.
You’re not simply going again and making an attempt the similar factor again and again to, to no impact.
So I feel that was actually encouraging with Mr. Sasaki.
So I feel that was actually encouraging with Mr. Sasaki.
