Roki Sasaki Outlines Goals for Future Starts After Sunday’s Loss

Q: What were Roki Sasaki's stats in his recent start against the Texas Rangers?

In his recent start, Roki Sasaki pitched four innings, allowed two runs, struck out six batters, and issued five walks while throwing 94 pitches.

Q: What does Roki Sasaki want to achieve for the rest of the season?

Roki Sasaki aims to cut down on his pitch count to enable him to pitch deeper into games for the remainder of the season.

Q: How many starts has Roki Sasaki made this season?

Roki Sasaki has made three starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers this season.

Q: What challenges did Roki Sasaki face in his latest game?

Roki Sasaki struggled to keep batters off the bases, allowing five hits and five walks during his four-inning outing.

Apr 12, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) stands on the mound during the third inning against the Texas Rangers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images

Los Angeles Dodgers starter Roki Sasaki spoke about what he wants to achieve in his starts for the remainder of the season.

Sasaki made his third start of the season for the Dodgers on Sunday, pitching four innings and allowing two runs. He struck out a career-high six batters in the outing, but struggled to keep batters off the bases with five hits and five walks. He also threw 94 pitches, which limited him to just the four innings.

The right-hander revealed he wants to cut down on his pitch count to pitch further into games.

“I’ve thrown three games now, all of them four, five, not many innings,” Sasaki said. “My goal is to go deeper in games.”

Sasaki’s longest MLB outing came in 2025, when he lasted six innings against the Texas Rangers early in the season. Through his 11 MLB starts, he’s gone beyond five innings pitched in just two of them.

What Are Roki Sasaki’s Teammates Saying About His Outing?

While Sasaki certainly had mixed results in his outing, his team was quick to say he had improved since his previous outing, though they saw even more room for improvement.

“The thing that stands out is he limited damage,” Roberts said. “Once he exited the game, we were still in a good position to win. That was important. He didn’t let it spin out of control.

“Looking at the lack of efficiency, I think that’s something that—with the stuff he had today—that sets up for going deeper in the game. …I think that’s the next progression, for him to consistently be able to do that.”

Backup catcher Dalton Rushing, who has caught all three of Sasaki’s outings this season, also had something to say after his performance.

“I thought he walked a couple guys he could have beat, personally,” Rushing said. “But it was good to see him bounce back after walking a couple leadoff guys, getting some swing and miss. I don’t think it was a bad outing, at all, it’s just kind of the same thing. We just have to lean on really attacking hitters a little more and getting ahead. I think that changes the counts for hitters facing him and getting a little more chase.”

“…I think we can get him to establish the strike zone a little sooner and if we do that from pitch one he’s going to be lights out.”

Sasaki’s goals seem to align with the objectives of his teammates, and he’ll work his hardest to turn his practice into results in his next outing, which should come against the Colorado Rockies next weekend.

The Dodgers have the New York Mets to worry about before then, and will look to win their fourth series in a row.

Do you think Roki Sasaki is taking the right steps towards improvement?