The Los Angeles Dodgers, aiming for a third straight World Series title, are cruising atop the NL West standings. However, Roki Sasaki, the 24-year-old pitcher who has been a regular in the starting rotation since Opening Day, continues to face difficulties. On May 7 (local time), during a rare full day off, he sat down for an interview.
“I just need to focus entirely on the batter. Right now, it’s all about practice,” he said.
Sasaki, who has made six starts this season totaling 28 innings, holds a 1-3 record with a 5.97 ERA (as of May 11). © Bungeishunju
**— On May 2, you made your sixth start of the season against the Cardinals. It was your longest outing yet—6 innings, 104 pitches, allowing 3 runs—but you ended up losing 3-2.**
“Honestly, my stuff wasn’t good at all. I got lucky in some spots and managed to go six innings, but it wasn’t great.”
**— In the third inning, when the heart of the order came around for a second look, you gave up back-to-back hits and then a homer to hot-hitting No. 4 hitter Walker, totaling 3 runs.**
“Before the game, my bullpen session felt outstanding. But once I entered the game, something felt off… When I tried to throw hard, the ball didn’t go where I wanted it to.”
**— Manager Roberts also noted, “Velocity could be a bit higher.” Your fastball topped out at 98 mph.**
“Yeah. In the second inning, I hit a batter, walked a couple, and the ball got away from me. After that, I started feeling for the right release point, and my velocity dropped.”
**— Walker’s home run came on an 84 mph splitter.**
“I don’t think it was a meatball… But I’m more frustrated about the two batters before him. I fell behind in the count, then they teed off on my fastball when I tried to get back into the count. That really bothers me. I put myself in a bad count, and then I left a pitch over the plate. You can’t get away with that at this level. They knew I was probably coming with a fastball, and they were ready.”
**— Your previous start against the Cubs, where you allowed 4 runs but pitched well overall, gave you your first win.**
“That was actually the best I’ve felt all season. The difference between that game and the Cardinals outing… I think it’s subtle mechanical adjustments. I need to replicate my good mechanics every game, but I’m failing to do that. The parts where I usually keep my force in check were loose, so I couldn’t transmit power smoothly, and my control suffered. I just have to keep practicing until I can focus entirely on the batter without having to think about my mechanics.”
**— Against the Cubs, you introduced a new weapon: a faster splitter.**
(The interview continues in the full article, where Roki Sasaki discusses the possibility of being removed from the rotation, an interaction with a former teammate from his time with the Chiba Lotte Marines who appeared at a ceremonial first pitch in late April, and what currently supports him mentally. Read the full story in the digital edition of Shukan Bunshun, now available.)
