The Los Angeles Dodgers kicked off the 2025 season with a clear mission: defend their World Series title and nurture Roki Sasaki’s transition to the majors. So far, they’re nailing the first part. Heading into Saturday, the Dodgers stood at 26-13, sharing the best record in baseball with the Detroit Tigers. And with pitchers like Clayton Kershaw, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow on the mend, the team is only going to get stronger.
But Sasaki’s journey to the big leagues? That’s a different story. In a recent game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, with the roof open at Chase Field and pitching on five days’ rest for the first time this season, Sasaki had a rough night. Despite the Dodgers’ eventual 14-11 win, Sasaki was hit hard, giving up five runs on five hits, including two home runs and two walks in just over four innings, without striking out a single batter.
Before this setback, Sasaki had been showing promise. In his previous four starts, he managed at least five innings each time, with a 3.74 ERA and a 1.200 WHIP over 21.2 innings. He struck out 15 and walked nine, suggesting he was finding his footing, even if he wasn’t dominating yet.
Friday, though, was a step back. From the get-go, he was in trouble, surrendering two homers in the first inning alone. His fastball, a key part of his arsenal, was a major issue. He threw 36 fastballs without getting a single whiff on 12 swings, averaging just 94.7 MPH—his slowest of the season. It’s not just this game; his fastball has been a concern all along. His 10.14% whiff rate on his four-seamer ranks among the worst for starting pitchers who’ve thrown at least 100 fastballs this year.
Sasaki himself, through his interpreter, admitted he’s puzzled by the dip in performance, saying he and the Dodgers are still trying to figure out “what the root cause” is. And time isn’t on his side. With Kershaw, Snell, and Glasnow set to return soon, the rotation is about to get crowded. Meanwhile, the Dodgers are in a tight race for the NL West crown against the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants. If Sasaki and the team can’t crack the code on his fastball, a trip to the minors might be on the horizon. It’s a reminder that even for a team with championship aspirations, the path to success isn’t always smooth.
