Sasaki Fuels Dodgers Win
Dodgers Clinch Series Against Mariners 6-2, Fueled by Sasaki's Stellar Pitching
Anonymous
Key Points
1
This was Sasaki's third appearance since the All-Star break, continuing a midseason resurgence that has raised expectations for his ability to anchor the Dodgers' rotation down the stretch.
2
In the sixth inning, Sasaki was hampered by cramps in his legs and calf, contributing to two runs allowed before Jack Dreyer came on to escape a bases-loaded jam.
3
There was ongoing discussion about Sasaki's oversized glove being used as a tipping mechanism, but Dodgers officials downplayed tipping, with Sasaki saying the glove looks bigger because his face is smaller and manager Dave Roberts stressing it's not the glove.
4
Sasaki continued to show elite velocity and a sharp splitter, with a 100 mph fastball and a splitter that produced nine whiffs on 20 swings.
5
The Dodgers extended their post-break run, earning their fourth consecutive series victory since the All-Star break.
The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Seattle Mariners 6-2 on Tuesday, clinching their fourth consecutive series win since the All-Star break. Roki Sasaki delivered five scoreless innings, flashing a 100 mph fastball and a splitter that drew nine whiffs on 20 swings, according to Audacy.
Mookie Betts doubled home two runs in the first inning. Dalton Rushing then crushed a three-run homer in the fourth to put the game out of reach. The Dodgers' post-break surge is real — and rivals are taking notice.
Sasaki Looks Like a Cy Young Contender
Sasaki, 24, has been dominant since returning from the All-Star break. Across three starts, he has thrown 18 innings, allowed just four earned runs, and racked up 21 strikeouts. ArcaMax described him as a "Cy Young-caliber" starter — and after this outing, it's hard to argue otherwise.
His splitter is the key weapon. The pitch moved sharply and kept Seattle hitters off balance all night. His fastball topped 100 mph. The Dodgers have worked closely with Sasaki to refine both pitches, and the results are showing up in the box score.
Leg Cramps Cause a Sixth-Inning Stumble
Sasaki ran into trouble in the sixth inning. Cramps in his legs and calf slowed him down, and Seattle pushed across two runs. The Dodgers called on reliever Jack Dreyer, who came in with the bases loaded and got out of the jam without further damage.
Despite the hiccup, Sasaki still left the game in line for the win. The physical issue appeared minor, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts did not signal any concern about Sasaki's health going forward.
Big Glove, Big Questions, Big Denials
Sasaki returned from the All-Star break with a noticeably larger glove. That sparked chatter about pitch tipping — the idea that the glove was being used to tip off which pitch was coming. Sasaki dismissed it simply. He said the glove just looks bigger because his face is smaller, according to Macon.com.
Manager Dave Roberts was equally direct. "It's not the glove," Roberts said. Dodgers officials framed the new equipment as part of Sasaki's overall renewed approach — not a tipping mechanism. The results back them up.
Dodgers Roll On Without Ohtani in Lineup
Shohei Ohtani sat out Tuesday's game with lingering knee soreness. That's a significant absence. But the Dodgers won anyway, which says a lot about how deep this roster is right now. Betts, Rushing, and Sasaki each stepped up to fill the void.
Los Angeles has now won four straight series since the break. The team looks locked in heading into the second half of the season. As Lancaster Online put it, MLB rivals "should be terrified" by what Sasaki — and this Dodgers team — are becoming.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
14
Articles
34
Reach
48
A
AnonymousAuthor