"Shock" Dune-Dune-Ballnet-Ballnet-Ballnet-Ballnet-Ballnet-Ballnet "ERA 15.58↑" Still, the head coach, "I believe, I will definitely get better." Is the 160km fireball really good

*This content was translated by AI.

Los Angeles Dodgers Japanese pitcher Rocky Sasaki (25)'s ERA soared to 15.58. Still, the head coach showed strong faith.

Sasaki started the exhibition game between the Los Angeles Angels and the 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California on the 24th (Korea time), and was sluggish in three innings with two strikeouts and five runs (five earned) on six walks.

On this day, Sasaki threw a total of 66 pitches. However, there were only 32 strikes, less than half of them. The maximum speed of the fastball was 99.1 miles (159.5 kilometers).

It was Sasaki who was shaken from the beginning of the first inning. He threw a hit ball to leadoff hitter Jack Neto. He then faced Mike Trout, but the on-base was continued due to the fielder's choice, and he allowed a walk to a surprised Chanuel, causing a full base crisis with no outs.

Sasaki allowed back-to-back push walks to subsequent Jorge Soler and Yoan Moncada. The Dodgers took Sasaki off the mound after failing to catch any out counts. Instead, Ronan Cobb was rushed to the mound.

Cobb seemed to put out an urgent fire by striking out Joe Adele swinging immediately after taking the mound. However, Josh Lowe hit a two-run timely hit. Sasaki's loss was increased to four points.

Due to the nature of the exhibition game, Sasaki, who was replaced, was allowed to take the mound again. Sasaki stepped on the pitching board again in the second inning. However, his control was still in the air.

Sasaki shook against Neto, the leadoff hitter, throwing another hit ball in the first inning. In the process, the game was delayed for a while due to injury concerns. Sasaki kept giving up a walk to Trout, who entered the next at-bat. He is on the verge of first and second bases with no outs. However, he did not record a loss. He induced Shanuel to ground out in front of the first baseman and caught the leading runner Trout at second base.

In the continued crisis with one out and runners on the first and third bases, Sasaki faced Soler and led him to a double play in front of the shortstop, overcoming the crisis in the second inning without allowing a run.

Sasaki allowed a walk to leadoff hitter Moncada in the third inning. However, he struck out Adele with a rookie strikeout and then struck out Lowe with a swing and miss. In the process, first baseman Moncada succeeded in stealing second base. It was a crisis with two outs and runners on second base. However, Sasaki caught his successor Logan Ohofi with a straight hit to second base to end the third inning without losing a point.

Sasaki went on to take the mound in the fourth inning. He gave up a walk to leadoff hitter Adam Frazier. In the end, that's it. Ben Casparius, who took the mound after Sasaki, allowed a sacrifice hit, and Frazier scored and Sasaki's run became five points.

After the game, Sasaki's performance in this year's exhibition game was 15.58 ERA with one win and no loss in four games. In a total of eight ⅔ innings, Sasaki marked detailed performances in exhibition games with 15 walks, 12 strikeouts and 15 runs (15 earned runs), a batting average of 0.257, and an on-base allowed rate per inning (WHIP) of 2.77 on-base hits.

Although Sasaki was shaken, the head coach does not seem to have gained trust.

According to Japanese baseball media Full Count, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the game that he would use Sasaki as the fourth starter. "I showed a good splitter, slider and fastball. However, there was a lack of consistency overall. Still, he expressed his belief, saying, "We can't evaluate everything just by spring camp practice games."

"In order to accurately grasp the condition (after getting off the mound briefly in the first inning), I kept him throwing the ball." The important thing is to play in the strike zone. I believe him. I'm hoping it'll definitely get better. I support him with the coaching staff. At this point, I will continue to use him," he said, renewing his trust.

However, voices of concern are pouring out in the U.S. The Athletic, a U.S. media outlet, said of Sasaki, "The final performance is serious," adding, "If we don't have control again after the opening of the season, Roberts' decision will remain a question."

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*This content was translated by AI.