Roki Sasaki, the Dodgers pitcher, appears to be tipping his pitches, as noticed by the Texas Rangers during a recent game. This has compounded his struggles with injuries and inconsistent performance since joining MLB.
Since arriving to MLB last season as a highly heralded phenom from Japan, it's been a rough go for Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki. The 24-year-old has battled injuries, confidence issues and inconsistent command.
Now, it seems like he's tipping pitches.
It was unclear what exactly Sasaki was doing in Sunday's start against the Rangers, but it was obvious that the Texas dugout caught on to some tell in Sasaki's cadence or positioning. In the first inning, Brandon Nimmo would hop around from second base to relay Sasaki's splitter. Nimmo would stand still when a fastball was coming.
The thing is: Sasaki's splitter is so nasty, though, that the batter can know it's coming and still have no chance. (Strong language in the video)
Sasaki struck out three straight hitters to get out of that first inning. But it seemed like the Dodgers weren't able to address what the Rangers had spotted.
They were still whispering about Sasaki's mechanics in the third inning.
Sasaki ended up going four innings and allowed just two runs. But he walked six batters and needed 94 pitches to get through those innings in a 5-2 loss. The Rangers definitely had something. It's just a matter of if the Dodgers can figure out what by the time Sasaki takes the mound again.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Roki Sasaki was tipping his pitches and the Rangers clearly noticed
Tipping pitches refers to a situation where a pitcher inadvertently reveals what type of pitch they are about to throw, allowing batters to anticipate and prepare for it.
The Rangers noticed a tell in Sasaki's cadence or positioning, which allowed them to predict when he would throw a splitter versus a fastball.
Since arriving in MLB, Roki Sasaki has struggled with injuries, confidence issues, and inconsistent command on the mound.
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