Dodgers' Dave Roberts makes firm Roki Sasaki announcement on rotation vs. bullpen role

The Los Angeles Dodgers are, once again, the World Series favorites. It's not a surprise, especially after they made two blockbuster signings with Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz.

Those are two massive pickups for the Dodgers, and they will be major helps for two of the weaker areas of the roster. Now with a closer, the Dodgers won't have to use Roki Sasaki in the bullpen. Right?

According to Jack Vita of the LA Times, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has made it clear where Sasaki is going to factor into the pitching staff. In the question of rotation vs. bullpen, Roberts has chosen the rotation for Sasaki's landing spot in 2026.

Dave Roberts make firm Roki Sasaki starting decision

"I don't see a world in which Roki Sasaki doesn't (open the season) as a starter," Roberts said of the young Japanese righty.

Sasaki is 23 years old and made 10 regular-season appearances for the Dodgers last season. He posted a 4.46 ERA in those 10 games (eight starts).

While he struggled as a starter, when he moved to the bullpen for the end of the season and the playoffs, he found his stride. In two regular-season outings as a reliever, he struck out four batters across two innings of work, only allowing one hit and no runs.

While he allowed a run in the postseason, his 0.84 ERA in nine outings across 10.2 innings with two saves and six strikeouts was a very impressive showing for Sasaki.

With how bad the bullpen was at the end of the season, Sasaki might be one of the bigger reasons why the Dodgers went back-to-back as World Series champions.

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But now, for the 2026 MLB season, Roberts is planning for Sasaki to return to the rotation. While he has an 18.90 ERA in two outings this spring as a starter, Sasaki is still slated to return to the rotation.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani, Emmet Sheehan, and Saski, with Blake Snell and Gavin Stone as injured starters who could return mid-season, make up the rotation in Los Angeles.

It's a great starting rotation, but Sasaki's role will be one worth keeping extra close attention to this year. His struggles in the rotation could force him back to the bullpen, which could make for an interesting dynamic with the young righty.

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