Roki Sasaki hasn’t had the smoothest spring training for the Dodgers. He’s started three games, and his stats look rough: a 13.50 ERA, a 2.70 WHIP, and just 10 strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings. Yeah, that’s not what you want to see heading toward Opening Day.

Last year, Sasaki struggled as a starter until an injury sidelined him. The Dodgers shifted him to the bullpen, and he actually turned things around. He played a huge part in their 2025 World Series run, so you know the talent’s there.

Even with the shaky preseason, the Dodgers and Sasaki both still see him as a starter. It’s been bumpier than anyone hoped, but it’s only spring training, so there’s time for him to settle in once the real games begin.

Fabian Ardaya from The Athletic didn’t sugarcoat the situation when he weighed in. He pointed out that the Dodgers have to think about what would happen if Sasaki melts down in a regular-season game, especially early on. That kind of disaster inning could put the bullpen in a tough spot for days. But Ardaya also reminded everyone that the Dodgers can handle some struggles, especially during April and May. They survived a similar situation last year, and they still believe that Sasaki will develop best by pitching in big league games, even if it means taking a few lumps.

It’s a luxury for the Dodgers, but Ardaya said the team needs to keep an eye on not just Sasaki’s performance but also how much patience they have for him if he keeps faltering.

So, what about moving Sasaki back to the bullpen? Ardaya addressed that too. He said the Dodgers wouldn’t make that switch right away, not unless things really go off the rails as a starter or some other circumstances force their hand later in the season. But even as a reliever, Sasaki needs to get his fastball command under control. Without that, he’s just not going to be effective, whether he’s pitching one inning or six.

The bottom line: The Dodgers are sticking with Sasaki as a starter. GM Brandon Gomes made that clear back in January. He said Sasaki looks strong, his velocity is solid, and he’s getting better with his cutter and two-seam. Gomes believes that once Sasaki fully develops his arsenal, he’ll be tough for hitters, especially as he works through the lineup a third time.

So despite the rocky start and doubts, the Dodgers want Sasaki to be a starting pitcher. Now it’s up to him to prove he can handle it.

Luka Dončić, the Los Angeles Lakers star, isn’t letting a custody dispute with his ex-fiancée, Anamaria Goltes, go unchecked. He just asked a California court to toss out her request for child support and attorney’s fees. Here’s his argument: neither he nor his kids live in California, so the case doesn’t belong there.

TMZ Sports reported that Dončić filed documents Friday in Los Angeles County. His legal team, led by Laura Wasser, pointed out that Gabriela, age two, and Olivia, just four months old, live with Goltes in Slovenia. Dončić says he doesn’t live in California either, and he already started legal proceedings for custody and child support back in Slovenia earlier this year.

Dončić is calling Goltes’ move a classic case of “forum shopping” basically, picking California because its child support laws might be more generous. He claims she’s only after a bigger payout and says her filing is “procedurally defective and legally improper".

Dončić also insists he’s been doing his part as a dad, covering all expenses for his daughters, according to both ESPN and his own court filings. He’s not exactly strapped for cash either; he’s in the middle of a three-year, $165 million contract. And he’s made it clear, “Everything I do is for my daughters’ happiness. I will always fight to be with them and give them the best life I can.”

Behind the scenes, things have been messy. He wanted Goltes and the girls to move to the U.S. for the NBA season, but she said no and went back to Slovenia in May. That distance, he admitted, helped bring their engagement to an end.

Still, Dončić’s volley of personal turmoil hasn’t slowed him on the basketball court. He’s been delivering MVP-level performances for the Lakers, finding peace in basketball during a rough time. “That’s life; I don’t know what to say,” he said last week. “Basketball is giving me some kind of peace when I play a game.”

His stats are as dominant as ever: over his last five games, he’s averaged 43.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 7.8 assists, including a jaw-dropping 60-point game against the Miami Heat. He finished that game shooting 18 for 30, knocking down nine threes, and snagging five steals – a stat line almost unheard of in the NBA.

Dončić and Goltes go way back. They’ve been together since 2016, growing up together in Slovenia. He proposed in 2023, just before Gabriela arrived, and Olivia was born in December 2025, both in Slovenia. Their relationship hit a bump this season when Dončić travelled overseas for Olivia’s birth, missing games against the Raptors and Celtics. ESPN says there was some disagreement over travel plans for their older daughter, but authorities cleared things, and Dončić left without incident.

Goltes’ petition in California made the dispute public this month, and Dončić responded with his own legal action. He reportedly learned about her filing through media reports, adding another bit of drama. Even with all these challenges, Dončić has kept his focus on basketball, leading the Lakers as they climb the Western Conference standings.

Navigating a tough chapter as a father while dominating professionally, Dončić is managing both worlds at once: the legal fight off the court and his relentless drive on it.