“Unraveling the Mystery: Is Dodgers Rookie Roki Sasaki the Next Pitching Phenomenon?”
Roki Sasaki threw five innings of one-run ball on Saturday against the Chicago Cubs. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
(Gina Ferazzi via Getty Images)
The results
A generous interpretation of Sasaki’s performance thus far is that he has been effectively wild. His 3.29 ERA suggests that he has managed to keep opponents relatively in check despite his severe strike-throwing shortcomings, as evidenced by an MLB-high 20.3% walk rate and a 50% first-pitch strike rate that also ranks among the worst in baseball. A more pessimistic evaluation of the young righty would insist that this degree of wildness is wholly unsustainable if he is to remain a viable candidate to start for the Dodgers on a regular basis, not to mention down the stretch as the stakes continue to climb.
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