Overview
- Sasaki’s latest Cactus League outing vs. the Royals lasted 3 1/3 innings with three earned runs, four hits, four walks and five strikeouts on 71 pitches, including a trainer check after he reported impending calf cramps.
- Across three spring starts he has allowed 10 earned runs in 6 2/3 innings with nine walks and 10 strikeouts, throwing 76 balls and 76 strikes, while still flashing upper‑90s velocity, a plus splitter and a developing cutter.
- Manager Dave Roberts reaffirmed that Sasaki will open the season as a starter and said the key is greater efficiency and faster in‑game adjustments rather than the raw results.
- Sasaki attributed a mid‑game command slide to work on a new sinker that altered his mechanics and said the exhibition outcomes do not concern him.
- President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman framed the call as an investment in long‑term development, while a team analyst publicly suggested a Triple‑A stint could be on the table if consistency does not follow.