Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki has struggled to transition to MLB from Japan. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts answers if the organization will send the rookie right-hander to the minor leagues.

Roki Sasaki’s highly anticipated rookie season has taken another disappointing turn. The Dodgers placed Sasaki on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder impingement on Tuesday prior to their 11-1 loss to the Athletics.

Saturday night in Atlanta, Dodgers righty Roki Sasaki earned his first MLB win with an outing that was OK but not really great. He allowed three runs on six hits and two walks in five innings, and struck out four.

Roki Sasaki did not just arrive in MLB—he was ushered in with expectations trailing him like a shadow. The post MLB Legend’s Suspicions Come True as Roki Sasaki Faces the Unexpected After Bitter Start to American Journey appeared first on EssentiallySports.

This story was excerpted from Sonja Chen's Dodgers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

When the Dodgers landed Japanese star Rōki Sasaki in the offseason, expectations skyrocketed. The 23-year-old came with electric velocity, a dominant track record in Nippon Professional Baseball, and a $6.5 million signing bonus. Paired with Shohei Ohtani, Sasaki was expected to become a cornerstone of L.A.’s pitching future.

When the Los Angeles Dodgers landed Roki Sasaki, it felt like they had plucked a lightning rod straight out of the Tokyo Dome. The post “Tough to Watch Him” – Roki Sasaki’s Slump Sparks MLB Insider Concern Amid Growing Criticism appeared first on EssentiallySports.