Roki Sasaki set to debut for Dodgers Tuesday

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced that Roki Sasaki will make his Cactus League debut on Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds, following fellow Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Sasaki, a highly anticipated rookie, is transitioning from Nippon Professional Baseball, where he excelled with a 2.10 ERA and 505 strikeouts over four seasons. He will pitch out of the bullpen, a decision influenced by the Dodgers' need to manage their starting pitchers in a condensed spring training schedule. Sasaki's performance in a simulated game earlier this week, where he pitched three innings, showed promise despite a leadoff home run surrendered to a top prospect. Both Sasaki and Yamamoto are expected to pitch in the Dodgers' upcoming Tokyo Series against the Chicago Cubs, with Yamamoto starting the opener and Sasaki slated for the second game. This debut will be a critical step in Sasaki's acclimation to Major League Baseball as the team prepares for the regular season.