Dodgers' Dave Roberts addresses Roki Sasaki's struggles after loss to Rangers

Los Angeles Dodgers hurler Roki Sasaki can't seem to shake off his early-season jitters.

The Japanese star took the loss after his team dropped a 5-2 home game to the Texas Rangers on Sunday.

Once again, his issues with command got him to fall behind in counts, issuing five walks across four innings of work.

That's why, following the game, manager Dave Roberts had no choice but to finally address the elephant in the room and get honest on the right-hander's struggles.

Dave Roberts opens up on Roki Sasaki's struggles

"Looking at the lack of efficiency, I think that is something, with the stuff he had today, with the six strikeouts, that sets up for going deeper into the game," Roberts said, per SportsNet LA. 

Roberts praised parts of Sasaki's game, including his ability to spread out walks, but also was honest about where improvements need to be made.

”I think that if you look back at today and even a lot of his outings, you know, there's some bad walks in there," Roberts said. "You know, guys that you have to go after and force them to put the ball in play, and he's been victim to that. So, once we can kind of get past that, then I think you'll see a lot more efficiency out of Roki."

Roberts acknowledged that Sasaki was able to escape some tough situations and limit damage. The Dodgers were still in a position to even things up after he left in the fourth inning.

He needed 22 pitches to get out of the first inning and gave up a walk and a double to start the second before finally giving up two runs in the third. 

This has become a worrisome issue with Sasaki. So far, he's given up 14 hits and 10 walks in 13 innings, and he's averaging roughly 20 pitches per frame. That's neither efficient nor sustainable, and it's not what the Dodgers need from him.

The Dodgers could still have a decision to make once Blake Snell is back to full strength, though Roberts has been vocal about his desire to keep Sasaki in the rotation rather than the bullpen. 

That said, he's not doing himself any favors, and it looks like Roberts' patience is running low. Sasaki has gone 0-2 with a 6.23 ERA and a 1.846 WHIP in three starts this season.