Roki Sasaki Shows Mixed Progress in Dodgers’ Loss to Cardinals

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ 2025 season debut of Roki Sasaki has been closely watched, and his early outings have reflected a mix of adjustment and expectation. Saturday’s start against the St. Louis Cardinals offered another look at his ongoing development.

After a rocky introduction to Major League Baseball, Sasaki has shown gradual improvement in recent appearances. Manager Dave Roberts indicated he has begun to see encouraging signs in the young right-hander’s command and pitch quality.

Facing the Cardinals on the road, Sasaki was given another opportunity to refine his approach against a competitive lineup. The outing lasted four innings and included both effective sequences and costly mistakes.

While the results remained uneven, there were moments that suggested the Dodgers’ evaluation process is beginning to trend in a positive direction.

1. Roberts Sees Signs of Progress

Manager Dave Roberts expressed cautious optimism following Sasaki’s performance, pointing to specific improvements in his pitch execution. The Dodgers continue to evaluate his adjustment to Major League hitters. Roberts highlighted Sasaki’s ability to consistently locate his breaking pitches, particularly a low slider he referred to as a “dart.” That pitch, combined with his split-finger fastball, remains central to his effectiveness. According to Roberts, maintaining that combination will be key to Sasaki’s long-term success at the major league level. The Dodgers are focused on refining his consistency rather than immediate results. He also noted a desire to see more velocity at times, suggesting that additional development remains part of the pitcher’s ongoing adjustment period.

2. Cardinals Capitalize on Key Mistake

Sasaki’s outing included four innings in which he allowed three runs on five hits while striking out four batters. His command showed flashes of strength early before a key mistake shifted momentum. The turning point came when Jordan Walker connected on an 84 mph slider during an 0-2 count, sending a home run that accounted for two runs. Alec Burleson later scored, adding to the damage from the same sequence. The Cardinals capitalized on the opportunity, using the momentum shift to build pressure during Sasaki’s middle innings. Despite the setback, he was able to regain composure later in the outing. That home run represented the most significant blemish on an otherwise manageable performance.

3. Strong Opening and Late Recovery Effort

Sasaki began the game with an encouraging first inning, showing sharp command and velocity. He struck out Nolan Gorman with a 96 mph fastball and induced both a groundout and a flyout to complete the frame. His second inning continued that early success, as he recorded another strikeout and worked efficiently through the lineup. He mixed pitches effectively and kept hitters off balance. Even after allowing the home run in the third inning, Sasaki responded with a clean fourth inning. He retired all three batters he faced without allowing a hit or baserunner. The final frame included a swinging strikeout of Ivan Herrera and two flyouts, offering a reminder of his ability to recover and finish strong despite earlier setbacks.