Roki Sasaki

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the team will likely start the season with a six-man rotation, with Roki Sasaki expected to pitch once a week in 2026.

Fantasy Impact

Sasaki pitched out of the bullpen during the 2025 postseason and was dominant, recording three saves with a 0.84 ERA across four appearances. Roberts said in the offseason that Sasaki would have every opportunity to rejoin the rotation in spring training, and recent comments indicate that remains the plan, with Sasaki expected to pitch once a week as a starter in 2026. He is also working on adding a cutter and a two-seamer to his arsenal to keep hitters off balance the second and third time through the order.

Roki Sasaki said on Saturday that he is working on adding a cutter and two-seam fastball to his pitch arsenal.

Fantasy Impact

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently said Sasaki will have every opportunity to rejoin the team’s rotation this upcoming season, but believes he needs to develop a pitch that moves to the left to keep hitters off balance the second and third time through the order. Sasaki is working on adding a cutter to his arsenal to help achieve that. He currently ranks as the 63rd ADP in fantasy baseball drafts, making him a solid mid-to-late-round target with significant upside.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the team will give Roki Sasaki every opportunity to be the fifth or sixth starter.

Fantasy Impact

Sasaki struggled in 2025, as his command wavered and his fastball velocity dipped while he spent much of the season on the injured list with a shoulder impingement. However, he turned things around in the postseason as a reliever, recording three saves and a 0.84 ERA across four appearances. Roberts said Sasaki will have every opportunity to rejoin the rotation, but believes he needs to develop a pitch that moves to the left, either a slider or curveball, to complement his fastball-forkball combination and keep hitters off balance the second and third times through the order.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he expects Roki Sasaki to be on the Wild Card roster.

Fantasy Impact

"The way he threw, the big games he's pitched in before, that's something I can trust," Roberts said. Sasaki will be available out of the bullpen.

The Dodgers have activated Roki Sasaki (shoulder) from the 60-day IL.

Fantasy Impact

Sasaki will rejoin the Dodgers for the first time since suffering a shoulder injury in May. He will take the place of Kirby Yates, who was placed on the IL with a hamstring injury.