Roki Sasaki has been named MLB’s most disappointing starting pitching through the first 31 games of the season, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

May 2, 2026

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Mar 30, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) walks back to the dugout as he is taken out from the game by manager Dave Roberts (left) during the fifth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

ESPN’s Jeff Passan named Los Angeles Dodgers starter Roki Sasaki as the biggest early disappointment among starters this season.

Sasaki has had a rough time through six starts this season, largely struggling with keeping batters off the basepaths. Opposing batters have a .304 batting average against the right-hander this season, and he’s also allowed 13 walks.

He has a 6.35 ERA through five starts so far, and has allowed at least one homer in each of his last four appearances.

“Sasaki has been wild and hittable, leading to an unsightly 1.809 WHIP,” Passan said. “He has allowed 13 walks, 28 hits and seven home runs in just 22? innings. The splitter can still be an effective wipeout pitch, but the problem is getting to it in a strikeout count: Though Sasaki throws plenty hard, averaging 97 mph on his fastball, it’s straight and doesn’t miss bats. Batters are 17-for-43 (.395) with five home runs against it. He’s in the rotation for now, and he needs the innings to work on his repertoire, but maybe those innings need to come in Triple-A.”

What Does Roki Sasaki Have to Do to Improve?

While Sasaki definitely has plenty to work on as he tries to establish himself in the Dodgers’ rotation, Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain believes Sasaki is one key improvement away from being as effective in MLB as he was in Japan.

“I think he’s fastball command away from being a really good big league starter,” McKain said. “…His fastball looks nothing like it did in the show than what it did when he was in the NPB. That is what’s holding it back.”

As Passan mentioned, Sasaki’s fastball has been extremely ineffective this season, generating just four strikeouts and a 17.3% whiff rate despite being his most used pitch. If the young right-hander can improve in locating it, he could return to his form from the end of 2025.

Are the Dodgers Going to Replace Sasaki in the Rotation?

Blake Snell has begun his rehab assignment in Single-A, meaning the Dodgers will have to shuffle around their pitchers soon. The likelihood the Dodgers move Sasaki back into relief, though, is low.

Manager Dave Roberts is adamant on keeping Sasaki as a starter, and has explicitly said he won’t be leaving the rotation when Snell comes back.