Dodger rookie Roki Sasaki altering his pitching approach to secure a postseason slot, despite a hard-luck start to his career.
Rōki Sasaki, the highly-touted 23-year-old Japanese pitcher, is making a potential addition to the Los Angeles Dodgers' playoff arsenal. Known for his record-breaking performances in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), Sasaki has been working hard to make a bigger impact on the team, whether it's this season or next.
Sasaki has made a number of adjustments to his arsenal since his injury, most notably the replacement of his sweeping slider with a cutter. The theory behind the switch to the cutter is that Sasaki had less success with his slider, both within the zone and in eliciting chases from hitters.
In small samples, Sasaki's cutter has shown a promising 50% whiff percentage and a 52.4% zone percentage. The cutter features close to 10 fewer inches of cut than the slider, suggesting that Sasaki may have found a pitch that better suits his style.
However, Sasaki has only thrown three sinkers according to pitch classification algorithms, and none of them have landed in the strike zone. He is potentially considering adding a sinker to his pitch arsenal to provide more variety and unpredictability to hitters.
Sasaki's four-seam fastball has dead-zone properties, moving horizontally as much as vertically. This unique movement may give hitters trouble, but the addition of a sinker could further complicate their approach at the plate.
Sasaki has been out since early May due to a shoulder impingement, but he appears to be in a good place to contribute to the team. Manager Dave Roberts believes that pitching in relief could be a possibility for Sasaki, especially with the Dodgers' potential qualification for the postseason as early as Friday night.
The Dodgers are known for their player development, and they are likely to refine Sasaki's arsenal in the off-season. Sasaki understands the quality of the Dodgers' starting pitchers and wants to be a part of it.
In a similar situation, Pittsburgh Pirates' ace Paul Skenes faced criticism for his four-seamer's shape but overcame concerns by adding a sinker-splitter hybrid to his mix. Sasaki's potential addition to the Dodgers' bullpen could prove to be a valuable asset, adding another dimension to their already formidable pitching staff.
Sasaki was one of the most highly anticipated free-agent signings last winter, and his potential impact on the Dodgers cannot be understated. As he continues to work on his new pitches and regain his form, fans can look forward to seeing what he can bring to the team in the postseason.
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