Dodgers & Dave Roberts banking on Roki Sasaki finding ‘compete mode’

Mar 23, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (left) taking pitcher Roki Sasaki (middle) out from the game during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images LOS ANGELES — Spring training was a disaster for Roki Sasaki, but the Dodgers are showing incredible faith in the phenom to find some semblance of command once the games count for real. In three of his four Cactus League starts, Sasaki was removed in the middle of an inning that got away from him, earlier than his originally planned length, then re-entered the game to open the next inning, which is allowed during spring training.

Prior to Monday night’s start at Dodger Stadium against the Angels, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts talked about expectations for Sasaki, who will start the Dodgers’ fourth game of the season, next Monday against the Cleveland Guardians at home. “Tonight we need to see him in compete mode. There’s a time to work on your mechanics, and a time to go out and compete,” Roberts said.

“Once the game starts, it’s about getting hitters out, because this is his last tuneup for the fourth game of the regular season. And he’s got to be ready to go. “You’re not always going to feel perfect, physically, mentally, emotionally, whatever it is.

But certainly for a starting pitcher, when it’s your day, you still got to find a way to take down a good amount of outs. ” Sasaki had his worst command to date against the Angels , and was removed five batters into the first inning with no outs. In fairness, one of those was a groundball that should have been an out, but Miguel Rojas threw errantly to second base.