Roki Sasaki flashed that insane ace potential *again* in his last outing. He absolutely limited the Mets to just one run over seven innings of work, racking up nine strikeouts, and honestly, it felt like we saw the guy he was supposed to be before he even hit the majors. It wasn’t quite his career best , that 10-strikeout game in early June still holds that crown , but it was darn close and showed what he can really do.
When He’s On, He’s UNREAL
Two starts ago, Sasaki absolutely dominated the Yankees, dialing up his velocity while pitching on extra rest. Then came this gem against the Mets. He was carving them up with every single pitch. Five of his nine strikeouts came on the splitter, two on the slider, and he even got one each on his slower forkball and the four-seamer. His four-seamer wasn’t hitting that career-high 100.1 mph average he had in his previous outing, but it was still pumping at 98.6 mph, the sixth-highest average of his career. That velocity is HUGE, because his fastball needs that elite speed to overcome its mediocre shape. It only generated two whiffs this time, though.
The real weapon? That splitter. It generated a whopping 13 of his 21 swinging strikes. That pitch is always dominant for Sasaki, but when he’s got that extra four-seamer velocity, it just creates even more separation, making the slower pitch play up even better. His slider was strong too, pulling in four swinging strikes. Add it all up, and this felt like just about the best his overall arsenal has ever looked.
But That ERA, Man. It Just Sits There.
So, is he worth chasing in fantasy leagues? That’s where it gets complicated. When Sasaki pitches like he did against the Mets, he screams ace. Then you look up and see a 4.71 ERA for the season. And an equally frustrating 4.35 expected ERA. That’s when you remember just how inconsistent this dude has been. Remember that 10-strikeout game in early June? He followed that up by giving up seven runs in 4.1 innings in his next start, and then he gave up 19 earned runs in just 17 innings across his next four starts. It’s literally been one step forward and usually three or four steps backward with this guy all season long.
The talent is undeniable. He’s got all the tools to be a superstar, and you just want to keep chasing that upside. For those of us in daily lineup leagues where streaming is king, sticking with an inconsistent pitcher like Sasaki long-term is a tough ask. You probably don’t need to commit to him unless you’re playing him on a start-by-start basis. But man, you can’t help but get excited for his next turn on the mound, hoping this is the real turning point for his season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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