Roki Sasaki got the kind of spotlight start that can tell you a lot in a hurry.
The Los Angeles Dodgers handed him the ball Friday night in the Bronx, making him their first pitcher of the first series back after the All-Star Break against the New York Yankees. And Sasaki answered with a version of himself the Dodgers have been waiting to see: harder, sharper, and far more overwhelming.
Los Angeles came away with a 2-1 win, and Sasaki was a major reason why. He didn’t just bring extra velocity - he brought it over and over again.
Entering the night, he had never reached 100 miles per hour more than four times in a start. Against the Yankees, he hit 100 MPH 21 times.
That wasn’t empty heat, either. Sasaki was blowing the ball right past New York hitters, and the radar gun spike came with real bite.
It’s the kind of development that could change the conversation around him if it sticks. When the Dodgers signed Sasaki before 2025, the expectation was straightforward: he was supposed to be their next Japanese superstar. So far, the road has been bumpier than that, with the one exception of a temporary move to the bullpen for the 2025 postseason.
But on Friday night at Yankee Stadium, Sasaki looked like a pitcher who may have found another level. If this version becomes the norm, it would go a long way toward helping him reach the ceiling the Dodgers envisioned from the start.
In Other News...
Yankees May Have Found A Real Catcher Answer Before Deadline Panic
The Yankees have spent enough of this season looking for answers behind the plate that the position has become part of the deadline conversation. Austin Wells has not given the club the production it expected, and general manager Brian Cashman has already acknowledged the issue while the front office sorts through possible trade options before the August 3 deadline. It is the kind of problem that can linger all summer if a team does not find a real fix, especially when the catching group is dragging in a way the Yankees can no longer ignore.
One name that has come up in the chatter is Arizona catcher Gabriel Moreno, a player who would give New York a very different kind of profile at the position if the Yankees decided to push harder. Moreno has been productive for the Diamondbacks this season and, just as importantly for any trade market, comes with years of club control beyond this one. For now, there is no official deal on the table, but the fact that the Yankees are being linked to a catcher of that caliber tells you how seriously they are treating the position as deadline pressure builds. [Read more 🡒]
This Under The Radar Bat Could Fix More Than One Yankees Problem
The Yankees still have a lot of boxes to check before the trade deadline, with clear needs at catcher, in the bullpen and in the rotation, plus some secondary asks that could shape the rest of the roster. One name that keeps surfacing as a fit is Spencer Steer, the Reds versatile bat who can move around the diamond and gives a lineup some right-handed balance while also helping cover more than one hole at once.
Steers appeal goes beyond just being a useful extra piece. He has handled multiple positions, has done damage against left-handed pitching and, with Cincinnatis playoff chances fading, he looks like the kind of player who could become available at the right time. The contract side matters too, since he is affordable now and controlled for several more seasons, which is exactly the sort of flexibility a contender like New York tends to value when it starts shopping for answers. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Have Two Trade Decisions They Cant Afford To Miss
The Yankees are heading toward the trade deadline with the kind of roster pressure that usually forces a front office to pick priorities fast. The bullpen still needs help, the catcher spot remains unsettled, and the outfield and designated hitter mix has been thinned further by injuries, leaving the club with more holes than comfortable answers as it tries to stay on course in the American League race.
Aaron Judges situation only adds to the uncertainty, and Giancarlo Stanton being hurt again makes the lineup picture even harder to read. If the Yankees decide to buy, they will have to choose carefully between adding a bat and reinforcing the pitching staff, with names like Joc Pederson and Miguel Andujar floating as possible fits while the bigger question remains how aggressive they can afford to be. [Read more 🡒]