Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki battled through right leg cramps during a July 31, 2026, start against the Seattle Mariners, allowing two runs in 5.1 innings to secure his fifth win of the season. Manager Dave Roberts also confirmed Shohei Ohtani will return to the leadoff spot against the Boston Red Sox.
Roki Sasaki Exits With Cramps After Dominant Start Against Mariners
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki delivered 5.1 innings of two-run ball on July 31, 2026, earning his fifth victory of the season and his second win. Through the opening five frames, the right-hander completely shut down the Seattle Mariners line-up, yielding just two hits, striking out seven batters, and touching 101.5 mph while using only 73 pitches.
However, the outing hit an abrupt roadblock in the sixth inning. Sasaki allowed a triple, surrendered consecutive hits and a walk, and conceded two runs before exiting the game prematurely. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts addressed the sudden drop-off after the game to explain the sixth-inning struggles.
Front five innings of content, even better than previous game against Yankees. Sixth inning leg was a little bit cramped, might have affected pitching, right now looks like a calf. Dave Roberts, Los Angeles Dodgers Manager, via Yahoo
Dave Roberts Evaluates First-Half Progress and Second-Half Confidence
The physical hiccup capped a demanding first half of the major league career for the 24-year-old pitcher, who joined the Dodgers from Japan ahead of the 2025 season on a rookie-scale contract with six years of club control. Across earlier stretches of the 2026 campaign, Roberts characterized Sasaki’s performance as inconsistent with room for growth, noting that while May brought a stellar 3-1 record and 32 strikeouts over seven appearances, subsequent months brought higher earned run averages and command battles.
Despite those earlier bumps—which included a rocky outing against the Chicago White Sox where Sasaki struggled to command his breaking pitches and surrendered seven runs in 4.1 innings—the coaching staff sees a distinct mental shift as the season progresses into the second half. Roberts expressed strong endorsement for the young arm’s competitive mindset.
I feel a sense of confidence from entering the second half to throw all the way through the end of the season. I often use the word conviction, and now his conviction has become very strong, so I think his state is really good. Dave Roberts, Los Angeles Dodgers Manager, via Yahoo
Shohei Ohtani Returns to Starting Lineup Against Boston
While Sasaki navigated his start, the Dodgers received an encouraging update regarding Shohei Ohtani, who missed the game due to left knee discomfort but watched from the dugout. Roberts confirmed that Ohtani’s absence was limited to a single day of rest and that he will return to the starting lineup batting first against the Boston Red Sox.
Ohtani enters the next stretch looking to build on a scorching stretch at the plate. Prior to his one-day knee inflammation absence, Ohtani had collected three hits across five at-bats in his previous two games, highlighted by his 23rd home run of the season. The immediate return provides a vital anchor for a Dodgers team.
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