Roki Sasaki did not just arrive in MLB—he was ushered in with expectations trailing him like a shadow. The Dodgers’ newest global star brought with him a reputation established on velocity, dominance, and power. He was not just another rookie; he was supposed to be a future ace. However, weeks into his debut, the hype began to cool. Sasaki’s fastball is not hitting the same data. His command has become shaky, and now, after multiple underwhelming starts, the star has officially landed on the 15-day IL with shoulder impingement prior to their 11-1 loss to the Athletics.

What began as a promising story has become a troubling moment. It did not take long for fans to notice something was off. Sasaki’s starts lacked the dominance he was known for in Japan. Sasaki’s fastball, known for its high velocity, has averaged around 96 mph in the majors. This is down from the star’s peak in Japan. Sasaki has been clocking as low as 92 mph at times.

In MLB, such a drop does not go unnoticed. Scouts, analysts, and fans began to ask: Where is the fire? In addition, his ERA of 4.72 and WHIP of 1.485—decent numbers on paper—were not enough to cover up the underlying issues. Then came a review that transformed the focus.

Chipper Jones chimed in with a theory that turned heads: “Maybe the guns in the WBC were juiced… maybe he is hurting. Who knows?” It was not said to stir drama—it was a veteran’s honest analysis. Shortly after, it felt almost prophetic. Talkin’ Baseball confirmed what multiple fans feared: “Roki Sasaki heads to the IL”.

Beyond the stats and analysis, there were quieter issues. Some say during the offseason, Sasaki and his camp were asking teams for reviews about his fastball. That is not typical for a pitcher assumed to dominate. Ryan Garcia did not stop and posted on X, “Roki Sasaki’s ERA does not do justice to how much he has struggled. The fastballs extremely hittable and he only has his splitter to rely on.” Such an imbalance quickly becomes a liability in the majors, where hitters feast on anything less than elite.

However, in such a situation, he tried his best. Doug McKain said, “He has felt some discomfort for the last few weeks, but given where we were at as a pitching staff, he wanted to continue to go and persevere and fight through everything”.

It is unclear what exactly derailed Sasaki’s early momentum. Was it mechanical? Was it forced? Or was it an injury no one wanted to talk about until it became unavoidable? Whatever the situation, the early chapters of the star’s MLB journey have taken a detour. The only thing louder than his radar gun now is what comes next for the Dodgers.

Dodgers roster shake-up sparks speculation around Roki Sasaki’s status

Just as questions were swirling around Sasaki, the team quietly made a move that raised more eyebrows. J.P. Feyereisen, a right-handed pitcher with a rocky 2025 resume, was called up to fill a gap for the Dodgers ahead of their series with the Athletics, despite having been optioned. The only way the star could be activated so soon? If someone on the pitching staff was headed to the IL. That possibility has fans linking the dots with Sasaki’s current struggles.

While Dave Roberts told the media that the Dodgers have “no plans to option Roki Sasaki amid early season struggles,” the addition of Feyereisen highlights that something larger could be in motion. The timing feels too coincidental. He has a history of shoulder surgery and a rough outing earlier this season, yet Feyereisen has returned with the big-league team.

Given Sasaki’s current trip to the IL, declared just as this roster adjustment unfolded, it looks like the team is reshuffling their rotation quietly, perhaps to manage deeper issues with Sasaki. If true, it is a sign that the team is not just hoping this rookie turns things around—they are already preparing for the long game.

The Dodgers’ rotation will now include Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Landon Knack, Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, and Clayton Kershaw, who will come off the IL against the Angels at Dodger Stadium.

Sasaki’s debut could not go as expected, however, the Dodgers appear to be playing chess, not checkers. Whether this IL stint is precautionary or something deeper, fans need to stay tuned. Keep coming back for updates as this high-stakes transition continues to unfold behind the scenes with the Dodgers.

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