Roki Sasaki struggles continue as Dodgers lock in rotation
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) being relieved by manager Dave Roberts during an MLB spring training baseball game. LOS ANGELES — With the calendar turning and Opening Day looming, the Dodgers have done what contenders eventually must: make decisions, plant a flag, and trust their talent. Manager Dave Roberts finalized his starting rotation this week, mapping out the first turn through what the organization hopes is another championship-caliber season: Thu: Yoshinobu Yamamoto Fri: Emmet Sheehan Sat: Tyler Glasnow Mon: Roki Sasaki Tue: Shohei Ohtani It’s a group that blends star power, upside, and—at least in one case—unavoidable uncertainty.
<span class="fr-mk" style="display: none;"> </span> Built to contend, questions included Let’s start with what’s stable. Yamamoto gets the ball on Opening Day against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium, and nothing about his spring suggests hesitation. After a brief stint with Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic, he logged 9⅔ innings across three Cactus League outings, striking out 14 with just one walk.
The command is there. The swing-and-miss is there. Behind him, Sheehan gets the nod for Friday—World Series Ring Night, no less.
That’s not a soft landing spot, but it’s an intentional one. The Dodgers believe the 26-year-old has taken a step forward. His spring (10⅔ innings, 11 strikeouts) showed flashes of improved velocity and sharper command, even if the walks (six) hint at work still to be done.
This is a proving ground moment. Glasnow slots in third, and in many ways, he’s the swing piece. When he’s on the mound, he’s frontline-caliber.
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