Dodgers' Roki Sasaki problem hasn't gone away
This isn't going well.
Dodgers' Roki Sasaki problem hasn't gone away originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Roki Sasaki was supposed to be better than this.
The Los Angeles Dodgers won't be giving up on the Japanese right-handed pitcher anytime soon, but an offseason doesn't seem to have solved all his issues. Last season, Sasaki struggled in the early going, dealt with an injury, then eventually was brought back in the bullpen to simplify things. Sasaki got the job done en route to the World Series title, but the Dodgers would like the guy they signed for nine figures to be a starter to indeed hold that role.
With Opening Day this week, though, Sasaki is struggling on the mound again. On Monday night, his first inning was rough. He threw just 13 of 30 pitches for strikes.
And it was worse than that. He hit the first batter, walked the bases loaded, then walked in a run. Then he walked another guy with the bases loaded, too.