The Los Angeles Dodgers are once again dealing with inconsistency from rookie sensation Roki Sasaki, and even manager Dave Roberts has admitted surprise at the right-hander’s abrupt dip in form after what had appeared to be a promising stretch of outings. Sasaki, who had begun to stabilize his season with improved command and velocity, has recently regressed in a way that has raised questions inside the organization about his short-term reliability in the rotation.
After a strong midseason run in which Sasaki delivered multiple quality starts and showed flashes of dominance, the right-hander’s latest appearances have told a different story. Over his most recent starts, he has struggled significantly with control, allowing increased traffic on the bases and failing to work deep into games. His command issues have been especially costly, with walks piling up and pitch counts rising early, forcing the Dodgers’ bullpen into heavier-than-expected workloads.
The most recent outing against the San Diego Padres highlighted those concerns. Sasaki labored through just over four innings, surrendering multiple runs while issuing five walks. The inefficiency on the mound was a stark contrast to the version of Sasaki seen only weeks earlier, when he had been attacking hitters with sharper fastball command and more consistent secondary pitches.
Following the game, Dave Roberts acknowledged that the sudden downturn was unexpected given the momentum Sasaki had built. The Dodgers had believed the young right-hander had begun to correct some of the mechanical inconsistencies that plagued him earlier in the season, making the recent struggles more difficult to explain. Roberts noted that the coaching staff had seen enough encouraging signs in previous outings to expect continued progress rather than regression.
For Sasaki, the inconsistency continues to be the defining theme of his early MLB career. At times, he has looked every bit the top-tier talent the Dodgers envisioned when they added him to their rotation—showing elite velocity, sharp breaking pitches, and the ability to dominate lineups over multiple innings. However, those peaks have been offset by stretches where his mechanics break down, leading to diminished control and shorter outings.
Pitching coaches within the organization have been working closely with him to stabilize his delivery, particularly focusing on repeatability and maintaining consistent release points. The Dodgers have also emphasized simplifying his approach in high-pressure innings, encouraging him to rely more on his most reliable pitches when command begins to slip. Still, the results have remained uneven, suggesting that the adjustment process is ongoing rather than resolved.
The underlying numbers reflect that inconsistency. Sasaki’s recent stretch has been marked by elevated earned run totals compared to his strong midseason form, where he had strung together multiple quality starts and looked increasingly comfortable adjusting to major league hitters. The contrast has been stark enough that opponents have begun to exploit his inability to consistently locate pitches within the strike zone during long at-bats.
Despite the concerns, the Dodgers remain publicly patient. The organization continues to view Sasaki as a long-term rotation piece rather than a short-term liability, and there is confidence that his raw talent and pitch arsenal will eventually translate into sustained success. Internally, the focus remains on development rather than results, even as the team competes in a tightly contested division race.