After slow start to 2025, Roki Sasaki’s struggles spark Dodgers manager Dave Roberts' concern

The LA Dodgers had high hopes for rookie Roki Sasaki, who was posted in the offseason and brought in by the franchise amid intense competition from other teams. Unlike most international signings, the Dodgers inserted Sasaki in the rotation, but he hasn't had the kind of season he was used to in Japan.

Before hitting the injured list after a shoulder impingement injury on May 9 in a start against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Sasaki had gone 1-1 in eight games started, which saw him throw 39.1 innings for a 4.72 ERA.

The low returns have Dodgers manager worrying, as reported by Matthew Moreno, who posted:

"Dave Roberts and Mark Prior both have said Roki Sasaki was pain-free. But this was Roberts today: "I don't know if he's feeling something, or he just doesn't have the confidence to kind of trust that he's in a good spot.""

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Dodgers manager provides latest update on Roki Sasaki

The LA Dodgers have seen several of their starters go down with injuries. Roki Sasaki is among them, and there's a latest update in store ahead of the team's three-game series against the San Francisco Giants.

Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior said that the franchise is taking it easy with Sasaki.

“Not a whole lot to report on Roki. I think right now we’ve got to get him in a position where he feels confident in his ability to throw the baseball," Prior said via SI.

“There’s not a lot to report. He’s been throwing, still just light catch and not a lot of work other than light catch right now. … He is pain-free, but hasn’t gotten to the point where he can put enough intensity to push forward in his progression. It’s just a light catch, just exercising in his throw and not necessarily pushing the throw.”

The Dodgers are hoping for Sasaki to take back his spot in the rotation, which includes Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Apart from Sasaki, Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell are also injured.

About the author

Krutik Jain is a journalist who has been reporting on baseball at Sportskeeda since 2022. It was in 2018 when the baseball bug bit Krutik, and already a cricket fan, he credits baseball's rules and Clayton Kershaw's pitching to have hooked him to the game.

A Kershaw and Mookie Betts fan, Krutik rates his favorite team LA Dodgers triumphing over Tampa Bay Rays in the 2020 World Series as his best baseball moment so far. His answer to the perennial "one player from the past you could meet" question is Jackie Robinson. Despite never having seen him play, Robinson's impact, legacy and trail-blazing journey have left an indelible impact on Krutik.

A rigorous fact-checker, Krutik likes reporting on the technical aspects of the game as well as off-field elements. When not watching baseball, Krutik is busy playing cricket, staying up to date with the happenings around the world and hiking.

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Edited by Bhargav