Roki Sasaki Struggles in Final Spring Start vs Angels
Roki Sasaki Dodgers vs Angels spring training 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki faced another challenging outing on Monday night, March 23, 2026, struggling with command during a Freeway Series exhibition game against the Los Angeles Angels. In what was intended to be a final tune-up before the regular season, the 24-year-old Japanese right-hander issued six walks and hit two batters, allowing five earned runs over just two-plus innings at Dodger Stadium.
Sasaki’s night began on a rocky note when he failed to record an out in the first inning, hitting Zach Neto and walking three consecutive batters before being temporarily replaced by Ronan Kopp under spring training’s flexible substitution rules. According to official reports from the Associated Press, Sasaki threw 66 pitches in total, with only 32 finding the strike zone.
The performance inflated Sasaki’s spring training ERA to a dismal 15.58 across four exhibition starts for the defending World Series champions. Throughout 8 2/3 innings this spring, he has surrendered 15 walks, raising significant questions among analysts regarding his readiness for the 2026 rotation.
While Sasaki displayed flashes of his signature high-velocity stuff—recording strikeouts of Jo Adell and Josh Lowe in the third inning—his inability to find the plate consistently remained the defining theme of the evening. The Japan Times noted that the Dodgers are closely monitoring Sasaki’s mechanics, as he previously attributed some of his command issues to the integration of a new “gyro-spin” slider and a sinker that has reportedly affected his arm-side control.
Despite the spring struggles, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has remained publicly supportive, emphasizing that the team is focused on Sasaki’s “build-up” and long-term health following a 2025 season marred by a right shoulder impingement. Sasaki, who signed a minor league deal in January 2025 and played a pivotal role in the Dodgers’ 2025 postseason bullpen, is still expected to be a key part of the starting rotation.
However, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto scheduled to start the season opener against Arizona on Thursday, March 26, the pressure is mounting for Sasaki to regain the “perfect game” form he famously displayed in Japan. Market analysts suggest that while spring results are often secondary to health, the Dodgers may handle Sasaki with “extreme caution” in the early weeks of the regular season to ensure his command issues do not become a persistent liability.
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