Overview
- In Surprise against the Royals on Tuesday, Sasaki was credited with 3 1/3 innings and allowed three earned runs on four hits with four walks and five strikeouts over 71 pitches, 38 for strikes.
- Sasaki said a new two-seamer/sinker disrupted his mechanics in the third inning, which he linked to the bout of wildness that led to three straight walks.
- Manager Dave Roberts removed him mid-third to limit the inning, used the spring re-entry rule to send him back for the fourth, and then pulled him after a Starling Marte leadoff double in the fifth.
- During a fourth-inning mound visit with a trainer, Sasaki reported both calves were about to cramp, yet he stayed in and recorded the out.
- Through three Cactus League starts he has a 13.50 ERA over 6 2/3 innings with nine walks, as Roberts maintains he is tracking for an Opening Day rotation spot and notes his upper-90s fastball, splitter and developing cutter.