The Los Angeles Dodgers witnessed a promising outing from their prized right-hander, Roki Sasaki, against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday. Despite experiencing difficulties in his initial two major league starts, the highly touted Japanese pitcher displayed a return to form at Citizens Bank Park.
Sasaki’s final line for the game included four strikeouts, three hits, two walks, and one earned run. After surrendering consecutive singles in the first inning that led to a Phillies run, the right-hander effectively shut down the opposition, retiring 12 of the subsequent 17 batters he faced.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Roki Sasaki Reflects On Early Starts
Reflecting on his performance, Sasaki explained through his interpreter, “I was searching for something that I could feel confident about. So what I learned this time is that it’s really important to have confidence based on some adjustment, some skill.”
Sasaki revealed that a bullpen session held two days prior to Saturday’s game was instrumental in his improved confidence. The adjustment he made during that session allowed him to engage his lower body more effectively, which in turn provided a significant boost to his overall confidence on the mound. However, he thoughtfully noted, “But you really have to pitch in games to find out if what you feel in bullpens and during practice actually comes to fruition.”
For Sasaki, the key difference between his successful outing against the Phillies and his previous two Major League starts was rooted in a mechanical adjustment rather than a change in mindset. “It was more mechanical-based rather than mindset,” Sasaki explained. “I felt like last time around, I felt like I did want to throw strikes but I couldn’t. And I really worked on the mechanical side of the game, and felt like I was able to do that today.”
Manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the significance of Sasaki’s strong start against the Phillies, emphasizing its importance for the young pitcher’s morale. “He needed it,” Roberts stated. “He probably won’t let on how much he needed it, but to get a major-league start and given how the first couple went, to have some success and leave the game with a lead, I think that was certainly a big positive. Just a building block for him for his next outing.”