- Removed in 2nd inning after walking 4 of 12 batters faced
- 61% of pitches thrown to first 12 batters missed the zone
- Dodgers plan extended rest schedule despite early struggles
- Shohei Ohtani's bullpen session signals rotation changes ahead
Los Angeles Dodgers fans witnessed concerning patterns during Roki Sasaki's home debut at Chavez Ravine. The 23-year-old Japanese phenom recorded only 32 strikes across 61 pitches, continuing command issues first displayed during the Tokyo opener. This marks the second consecutive start where Sasaki failed to complete three innings, raising questions about his adaptation to Major League Baseball's official ball specifications.
Industry analysts note significant differences between NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball) and MLB ball seams. Former Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka required 14 starts in 2014 to lower his walk rate from 11% to 6% during this transition period. Sasaki's current 37% ball rate through two appearances suggests similar mechanical adjustments are needed, particularly with his signature splitter that dominated Japanese hitters.
The Dodgers' player development team emphasizes patience, structuring Sasaki's April schedule with seven-day rest intervals between starts. Pitching coach Mark Prior recently told MLB Network: Young power arms often need 50-70 innings to sync their delivery with our ball. We're focused on long-term arm health over short-term results.
Advanced metrics reveal promising signs beneath surface struggles. Sasaki generated 42% whiff rates on fastballs exceeding 97 mph during the Detroit matchup, including a 3-pitch strikeout of Riley Greene. However, his 68% first-pitch strike rate trails the MLB average of 62%, indicating late-count predictability that veteran hitters exploited.
With Shohei Ohtani progressing through bullpen sessions, Los Angeles anticipates transitioning to a six-man rotation by Memorial Day. This strategy aligns with recent success managing Yamamoto's workload while maintaining playoff positioning. The organization's $1.2 billion pitching infrastructure investment prioritizes biomechanical analysis to accelerate foreign pitchers' adaptations - a system Sasaki will access extensively between starts.