Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised Roki Sasaki's performance following his first start after the All-Star break on July 18, 2026, saying he hopes the outing becomes a turning point for the team.
Roberts noted that Sasaki's velocity climbed during the outing. "The velocity was up, you know, he dialed it up," Roberts said during a press conference. He added that Sasaki reached 102 mph in the first inning, recalling, "I got a big smile on my face when I saw 102."
Roberts said Sasaki hit triple digits multiple times while showing strong command, comparing the outing to a breakout start by Yoshinobu Yamamoto a few years earlier. "It sort of reminded me of when Yamamoto was here a couple years ago," he noted. Asked whether he hoped the start could serve as a similar turning point for Sasaki, Roberts replied simply, "I hope so."
Roberts explained that touching 101-102 mph gives a pitcher more margin for error, though he stressed that Sasaki's split-finger command stood out just as much. "It certainly gives you a lot more margin, but even with that his split command was really good," he said. He added that Sasaki had put in extra work during the break and had been anticipating the start, stating, "he did a lot of work over the break and really looked forward to this start right here."
Roberts also acknowledged the unpredictability of Sasaki's outings, explaining that early struggles do not always dictate how a start unfolds. "There's times where he gives up a couple, then he settles down, or, you know, he's good until he's not," he said. He additionally discussed a tough decision Yankees manager Aaron Boone faced regarding pitcher Gerrit Cole before Max Muncy hit a go-ahead home run off Cole, and he praised a defensive relay play from Andy to Mookie Betts that produced a tag out, calling it a significant moment given the team's recent defensive struggles.
Roberts said he hopes Sasaki can continue building on the outing as the season progresses.