DODGERS STAND FIRM ON ROKI SASAKI STARTING ROLE DESPITE BRUTAL SPRING TRAINING
Roki Sasaki faces a 2.70 WHIP crisis, but the Dodgers believe his velocity and new cutter will secure his rotation spot.
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.
MOTORSPORT WORLD MOURNS AFTER FATAL SEVEN-CAR NüRBURGRING CRASH CLAIMS JUHA MIETTINEN
Juha Miettinen, 66, has died following a seven-car crash at the Nürburgring. Get the latest details on this motorsport tragedy.
Max Verstappen expressed his condolences after the tragic passing of Juha Miettinen, who lost his life in a multi-car accident during qualifying for the 24 Hours of Nurburgring.
The incident occurred early in the weekend’s opening race, a four-hour event that started at 5:30 pm local time. About 25 minutes into the race, seven cars collided at a tight hairpin just before the Karussell section.
The race was immediately stopped with a red flag, and no replays of the crash were shown during the live broadcast. Some onboard footage from the #992 Porsche AT2, driven by Bjorn Griesemann, provided a glimpse of the scene, though technical problems with the cameras limited coverage there.
Misha Charoudin, a driver who was directly behind the crash, mentioned to Viaplay that “someone left fluid behind", causing six or seven cars to pile into each other. He noted, “You come into that stretch at 220 kph, and if you can’t brake…”
Race control later confirmed that Miettinen, 66, succumbed to injuries from the crash. Despite the quick response from emergency teams, paramedics were unable to save him. He was pronounced dead in the medical centre after all efforts to resuscitate him failed.
The other six drivers involved received precautionary medical evaluations, either at the medical centre or nearby hospitals, with none reported to be in critical condition.
Following the accident, the decision was made to halt the race. The FIA, while not the event organiser, was involved in several operational aspects and issued a statement expressing sorrow over Miettinen’s death during the first qualifying race of the ADAC 24h Nürburgring.
“Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, and all connected to the event,” the FIA said.
Verstappen, whose teammate Lucas Auer was driving the #3 Mercedes-AMG during the crash, also shared his thoughts that evening.
“Shocked by what happened today,” he wrote. “Motorsport is something we all love, but moments like this serve as a stark reminder of the risks involved. My heartfelt condolences go to Juha’s family and loved ones.”
FERNANDO MENDOZA AIMING TO JOIN RARE ELITE CLUB: HEISMAN AND NATIONAL CHAMPION IN SAME YEAR
Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza is the consensus No. 1 pick! See why the Raiders are locked in on their future franchise leader.
Everyone’s expecting Fernando Mendoza to go first overall to the Las Vegas Raiders in this week’s NFL Draft. The guy’s locked in, with absolutely zero distractions, just chasing his pro football dreams.
Mendoza’s coming off a run with the Indiana Hoosiers that put him on the verge of something rare. If he pulls it off, he’ll join the tiny handful of quarterbacks who’ve won both the Heisman and the National Championship, then gone first overall, all in the same year. He’s determined to do just that, and he’s made it clear nothing’s getting in his way.
He’s even talked openly about skipping out on dating. 'No time for a girlfriend right now,' Mendoza said. He’d end up giving her all his attention when really, he wants to be watching more film and working on football. He laid it out during the National Championship media day: right now, his phone just has LinkedIn and YouTube. No doomscrolling through football takes, and definitely no reading what random fans say about him. He tunes it all out, focusing on feedback from his coach and the other quarterbacks in the room. So far, it’s paid off; he played his best football through the playoffs, staying away from social media and deleting every app that could steal his focus. In the end, it helped him get that National Championship.
Even though the Raiders just brought in Kirk Cousins, Mendoza’s still the favourite to take the starting job as a rookie. Scouts see him as the clear top quarterback in this draft, though ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky has argued that Alabama’s Ty Simpson actually deserves the top spot.
Looking past this year, the 2027 draft is shaping up to be a stronger class for quarterbacks, with guys like Arch Manning, Dante Moore, LaNorris Sellers, Julian Sayin, and DJ Lagway all expected to throw their names in the hat. But right now, the spotlight’s on Mendoza, and he’s making sure nothing shakes his focus.
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