Roki Sasaki addressed reporters on June 20, 2026, stating that he had successfully corrected the breaking ball problems that plagued his previous start, with his slider and fastball both performing well in his latest outing for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Sasaki noted that his fastball exceeded 100 mph and felt strong throughout the game. "The slider was completely ineffective in my previous start, but this time there were many good pitches with it," he said during the press conference. He added that the only real problem in the outing was the two home runs he allowed at the end, stating that "overall it was good pitching."
Sasaki explained that his adjustment was not a matter of changing his grip. Rather, he identified tendencies that emerged when the ball failed to reach the strike zone, working through those patterns with the Dodgers pitching coach in the bullpen. He also noted that the outing unfolded in line with what had been discussed in the pre-game meeting.
On the subject of his rising velocity, Sasaki acknowledged the upward trend but stated that maintaining physical condition and staying healthy is his current priority over chasing further velocity gains. "Raising precision and throwing the ball as intended" is his stated goal for pitching deeper into games, though he acknowledged he will still get hit at times.
Sasaki also mentioned that his approach has remained largely consistent and that the work is coming together in a positive way. When asked about the FIFA World Cup schedule overlapping with the Dodgers' next game, he laughed with reporters and said he would cheer for Japan if time allowed.