The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to resume their regular season schedule this week with a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers.
Blake Snell will get the ball in the Dodgers home opener on Thursday, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto lined up to start the second game. Roki Sasaki is then slated make his Dodger Stadium debut in the series finale on Saturday.
The 23-year-old had mixed results in his MLB debut against the Chicago Cubs as he allowed just one hit and one run over three innings, but also walked five batters.
“I felt good about the things I’ve been working on through Spring Training,” Sasaki said through an interpreter after his Tokyo Series start.
“Even though my command went awry at times during the game, I felt good about my mechanics and my delivery. I just want to make sure I can repeat it better moving forward.”
Sasaki was dominant in Cactus League play as he threw seven scoreless innings and allowed only seven baserunners while recording seven strikeouts.
As he looks to improve in his second big league outing, Sasaki will pay close attention to his fastball and splitter.
“There will be issues that come up from that, so I want to be in a position where I can address those as early as possible,” he said.
Given their schedule of probables, Tyler Glasnow won’t make his 2025 debut until later in the homestand when the Dodgers host the Atlanta Braves for three games.
The right-hander had some elbow trouble last season, but the decision to push him back has more to do with Yamamoto and Sasaki staying on their respective schedules.
“He’s going to pitch in this Freeway Series and I think that’s more driven by with Yamamoto and Roki, just trying to keep them on some type of schedule,” manager Dave Roberts said.
“Where to introduce Tyler into the ’25 season, pushing him back just made the most sense to keep those other two guys more on line.”
Dodgers patient with Roki Sasaki
While there has been plenty of attention on Sasaki prior to and since being posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines, the Dodgers continue to preach patience.
Roberts previously noted the only true expectations the team has placed on Sasaki is wanting to see continued development throughout the season. Roberts nevertheless understands Sasaki faces National League Rookie of the Year expectations.
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