Roki Sasaki, who served as a key reliever for the Los Angeles Dodgers during their 2025 World Series championship run, is expected to transition back to the starting rotation in 2026. Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes confirmed Sasaki will absolutely be in the rotation next season, with president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman echoing the team's view of him as a strong starter. This move follows Sasaki's injury-plagued season and successful late bullpen stint.
Roki Sasaki's 2025 season with the Dodgers was marked by challenges and eventual success. He debuted in Major League Baseball by starting the team's second game against the Cubs in Japan, where he walked five batters in three innings while showcasing his high-velocity four-seamer and diving splitter. Command issues persisted, as Sasaki walked 22 batters in 34 1/3 innings across eight starts, posting a 4.72 ERA and 24 strikeouts with a 20.4% whiff rate. He landed on the injured list in May due to a right shoulder impingement and missed over three months.
Sasaki returned on September 24 in a relief role, striking out four batters in two scoreless innings without issuing a walk. In the playoffs, he allowed one run over 10 2/3 innings, saved Games 1 and 2 of the National League Division Series against the Phillies, walked five, struck out six, and boosted his whiff rate to 33.7%.
The Dodgers used Sasaki in the bullpen to refine his delivery, as Friedman explained: "I think for us, [using Sasaki as a reliever] was about trying to get his delivery back. I feel like we made a lot of progress on that. So for us, we’re definitely viewing him as a starter and a really good one, and we’ll continue to work this offseason and put him in the best position to be ready in Spring Training to help us win again."
In 2026, Sasaki will join Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow in the rotation, with Emmet Sheehan, Gavin Stone, and River Ryan as depth options. Stone and Ryan missed the season recovering from right shoulder surgery and Tommy John surgery, respectively.
To fill the bullpen, the Dodgers may pursue top relievers like Devin Williams, in whom they have interest. In-house, Tanner Scott, who signed a four-year, $72 million deal, recorded 23 saves with a 4.74 ERA and 10 blown saves but will get another chance as closer after missing the postseason for a medical procedure.