"The past few years, actually, my mechanics were really bad. It's not something that I really want, so I'm now trying to make some adjustments. I was able to find something I could really trust. But I still need to work on [it] to reproduce in the game. I was able to find a better way to use my lower body, but I still have some issues in the upper body, so I'm gonna work on it and keep moving forward."
"After allowing two walks and two hits, including a home run, in the first inning against the Guardians, Sasaki bounced back in the second and third inning to throw 13 of his final 22 pitches for strikes. Going forward, command of the fastball will need to continue being a point of emphasis. The results weren't great overall, as Sasaki threw it for a strike less than 50% of the time."
"Despite an uneven first two starts of the spring, Roberts said Sasaki is still expected to be part of the team's starting rotation to begin the 2026 season. With Blake Snell and Gavin Stone not expected to be ready for Opening Day, the final two or three spots will likely go to a combination."
Roki Sasaki has struggled in his first two Cactus League appearances for the Los Angeles Dodgers, though he demonstrated signs of improvement in his Tuesday outing against Cleveland. Manager Dave Roberts remains impressed with Sasaki's practice work, but results in games have lagged behind. Sasaki attributes recent difficulties to poor mechanics and is actively working to correct them. After a rough first inning with two walks, two hits, and a home run, Sasaki improved significantly in subsequent innings, throwing 13 of 22 pitches for strikes. Command of his fastball remains a concern, landing for strikes less than 50% overall, though he improved after the first inning and utilized his cutter-slider more effectively. Despite uneven spring performance, Sasaki is expected to be part of the Dodgers' Opening Day rotation.
Read at Dodger Blue
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