Roki Sasaki’s Progress In 2026 Encouraged Dodgers

After shining as a reliever during the 2025 postseason, Roki Sasaki looked to keep that momentum going as he transitioned back to a starting role for the Los Angeles Dodgers this year.

The right-hander struggled with inconsistency in the first half but started to hit his stride after the All-Star break following some mechanical adjustments. From July 17 through Aug. 19, he posted a 2-0 record with a 2.31 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 35 innings across six starts.

Unfortunately for Sasaki, that progress was halted when he went on the 15-day injured list at the end of August due to a blister on his right middle finger. He ultimately returned during the final week of the regular season and picked up where he left off out of the bullpen.

In some ways, Sasaki’s 2026 campaign was reminiscent of a roller coaster, but the Dodgers are nevertheless pleased with the strides he made.

“A ton of really positive to take away from it,” general manager Brandon Gomes said of Sasaki’s second season with the Dodgers. “I thought his second half was incredible. You can kind of look at the time where he made the adjustment with the split finger, and really took off in the second half.

“I think something that doesn’t get talked about enough, with the exception of the blister, he went wire-to-wire and was one of our more durable starting pitchers.

“So a lot of really good things to take away from. I think building off of his postseason success from last year, and then having a really strong year this year, we only expect him to continue to grow and develop, and refine the really massive skillset that he has.”

As Gomes noted, Sasaki was a constant in the Dodgers’ rotation for most of the 2026 season. He finished second on the team in starts (23) and third in innings pitched (122.1), both of which were career highs.

And though he ended the year in the bullpen, Sasaki showed that he could excel in multiple roles. As a reliever, he allowed just one run in 6.1 innings of work across six appearances.

Roki Sasaki’s role on Dodgers in 2027

The Dodgers haven’t yet indicated where they envision Sasaki contributing next season, but he will presumably return to a starting role. The soon-to-be 25-year-old has proven that he can be a dominant reliever, but the upside he possesses as a starting pitcher is something the team will surely want to take advantage of.