Roki Sasaki Fantasy Stats

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that right-hander Roki Sasaki will remain in the starting rotation to begin the 2026 season despite his struggles on the mound this spring, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic. Sasaki had an ugly outing on Monday against the Los Angeles Angels, surrendering five runs on six walks with two hit-by-pitches in two-plus innings before being pulled without allowing a hit. It was a spring training to forget for the second-year pitcher, as he posted a 15.58 ERA with 12 strikeouts and 15 walks in 8 2/3 innings pitched. The 24-year-old Japanese hurler also struggled in 10 regular-season appearances (eight starts) in 2025, allowing 18 earned runs while walking 22 and fanning 28 in 36 1/3 innings before becoming L.A.'s closer in their World Series fun last fall. Fantasy managers should be very hesitant to use Sasaki in his first scheduled regular-season outing against the Guardians after he showed erratic fastball command, continuous arm-side misses, and out-of-sync mechanics during Cactus League play.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that right-hander Roki Sasaki will be in the team's Opening Day starting rotation despite his struggles in spring training, according to Jack Harris of The Los Angeles Times. Sasaki has been a roller coaster in Cactus League action this year, and it continued in his latest outing on Tuesday night against the Kansas City Royals, when he allowed three runs on four hits, four walks, and five strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings pitched. He has shown progress with his newly-added cutter, but overall, Sasaki has been underwhelming this spring. When left-hander Blake Snell (shoulder) eventually makes his 2026 season debut, Sasaki may end up back in the bullpen, where he was thriving last fall to close out the season. Struggles with command have been the biggest issue for the 24-year-old Japanese hurler, making him a boom/bust fantasy option in 2026. In 36 1/3 innings in his MLB debut in the regular season last year, Sasaki had a 4.46 ERA with 28 K's and 22 walks in 10 outings (eight starts).

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki is expected to open his second year in the big leagues in 2026 as a starting pitcher, per Jack Vita of the Los Angeles Times. "I don't see a world in which Roki Sasaki doesn't [open the season] as a starter," manager Dave Roberts said. Sasaki only appeared in 10 games (eight starts) in his first big-league season in 2025 during the regular season, allowing 18 earned runs on 30 hits (six homers) while walking 22 and striking out 28 in 36 1/3 innings pitched. The 24-year-old Japanese hurler then made nine appearances in the postseason as the Dodgers' closer, giving up just one earned run while recording three saves in 10 2/3 frames. He hasn't looked great in his two Cactus League starts, allowing seven earned runs while walking five and striking out five in 3 1/3 innings. Control continues to be the biggest issue for Sasaki, who could eventually be moved back to a bullpen role in 2026 when lefty Blake Snell (shoulder) makes his season debut.

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki allowed three runs, three hits, and two walks in 1 1/3 innings in his Cactus League debut on Wednesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. It wasn't a good start to spring action for Sasaki, who is trying to win a starting rotation spot going into his second MLB season. The Japanese hurler had a 4.46 ERA (5.80 FIP) and 1.43 WHIP with 28 strikeouts and 22 walks in 36 1/3 innings over 10 appearances (eight starts) during the regular season last year before becoming a key piece at the back end of L.A.'s bullpen during their run to a second straight World Series championship. Sasaki struck out three on Wednesday, but he threw only 17 of his 36 pitches for strikes. His fastball topped out at 98.6 mph. Manager Dave Roberts thought Sasaki was overthrowing, but he's not too worried after just one spring outing. The 24-year-old's upside is intriguing, but until he figures out his control issues, he'll be a wild card in fantasy.

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki struggled in his first MLB season in 2025. Across 36 1/3 innings, the 24-year-old posted a 1-1 record with a 4.46 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, and 28 strikeouts. Sasaki ended up spending nearly as much time with Triple-A Oklahoma City as he did in the Majors. He didn't get much better results against Triple-A hitters either, pitching to a 6.10 ERA across 20 2/3 innings. Down the stretch of the season, Los Angeles featured Sasaki out of the bullpen. However, it appears as though the hard-throwing right-hander will get another chance to carve out a rotation role in 2026. Sasaki was widely considered to be a high-end pitching prospect when he was initially coming up in Japan, so he still carries upside despite his rookie-year struggles. Still, the Dodgers have a multitude of quality pitching options, which means Sasaki could get optioned or moved to the bullpen if his performance does not improve. With a current average draft position of pick 224, Sasaki profiles as a high-risk, high-reward starting pitcher option for fantasy managers in 2026.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that it's "unlikely" that rookie right-hander Roki Sasaki will pitch in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Tuesday in Milwaukee against the Brewers after he appeared in Monday night's 2-1 win in Game 1. Roberts said that Sasaki may pitch on back-to-back days in the postseason, but it has yet to happen. The 23-year-old missed most of his rookie campaign in the big leagues due to injury, and the Dodgers converted him from a starting role to a relief one right before the postseason kicked off. Sasaki wasn't effective in the Game 1 win on Monday night, either, allowing a run on one hit while walking two in two-thirds of the ninth inning before veteran Blake Treinen came in to slam the door shut. It's unclear if Roberts will have second thoughts about using Sasaki in save situations moving forward in the playoffs after he looked good in the wild-card series and divisional round for the Blue.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that rookie right-hander Roki Sasaki is "definitely the primary option" in save situations moving forward in the playoffs, according to Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times. Roberts added that he initially didn't go to Sasaki in the Game 2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Division Series on Monday night because the team is still "being mindful of his workload." "There's a component that we still have to win X amount more games. And he's not gonna close every game. It's just not feasible. So you've got to use other guys. But if it makes sense, he'll definitely be finishing games," Roberts said. The 23-year-old struggled early on in his first MLB season and then missed most of the year with an injury, but Sasaki has transitioned well to a relief role for the playoffs and has the most trustworthy stuff right now for a Dodgers 'pen that has been by far their weakness in 2025. Sasaki has saved both of the team's NLDS wins to this point.

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Roki Sasaki is expected to be on the team's Wild Card roster, according to manager Dave Roberts. While the team hasn't released the official roster yet, Sasaki's strong work down the stretch out of the bullpen seems to have earned him a spot in the postseason. The 23-year-old had a 4.46 ERA and 5.81 FIP in his 10 games overall this season, but he pitched two scoreless innings out of the bullpen in the final week of the regular season against the Mariners and Diamondbacks. He gave up just one hit and had four strikeouts in those two games. His outstanding strikeout stuff and high ceiling make him an intriguing arm out of the pen for Roberts, as he and the Dodgers look to get past the Reds in the Wild Card series this week.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Tuesday that the team will activate right-handed pitcher Roki Sasaki (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list on Wednesday. He also said that the 23-year-old rookie will pitch out of the bullpen, rather than return to the starting rotation. Sasaki dealt with injuries and limited workloads in his career in Japan, so the Dodgers will have him finish the season as a reliever. Sasaki struggled in his rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City and put up poor numbers with the Dodgers before his injury. Sasaki came into the season as a high-end fantasy prospect, but his 4.72 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, and 15.6% strikeout rate will carry plenty of question marks into 2026, as well as health and role issues.

Los Angeles Dodgers rookie right-hander Roki Sasaki (shoulder) had another scoreless inning with Triple-A Oklahoma City on his rehab assignment on Sunday, striking out one and walking none. Sasaki has thrown two scoreless innings out of the bullpen and will rejoin the big-league club in Arizona during their upcoming road series in the final week of the regular season. The 23-year-old Japanese hurler is unlikely to come off the injured list until Wednesday, though, and he's expected to work out of the bullpen to close out the regular season. It makes sense to try Sasaki in the 'pen, given how much the Dodgers' relief corps has struggled in 2025. Sasaki won't be guaranteed to be on the playoff roster, though, and it's not exactly like he has pitched well in his first big-league season before he injured his shoulder. In his eight starts for the Dodgers, Sasaki had a 4.72 ERA and 1.48 WHIP with 24 strikeouts and 22 walks in 34 1/3 innings.