The Dodgers’ Game Plan for Roki Sasaki: Inspired by Historical Giants

The Los Angeles Dodgers, known for their methodical approach to scouting, player development, and game strategy, are never short of innovation. In 2025, one of the most intriguing aspects of their game planning involved Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki. At only 23 years old, Sasaki had already taken the world by storm with his electric stuff and remarkable composure on the mound. As the Dodgers prepared to face Sasaki in an interleague matchup, their coaches and pitching staff embarked on an extensive analysis of his skill set, with one crucial question in mind: how could they maximize their chances against a pitcher with such immense potential?

Interestingly, the game plan for Roki Sasaki was heavily influenced by an unexpected source: the legendary Sandy Koufax. The Dodgers’ organization, renowned for its deep connection to its history, didn’t just turn to advanced analytics or modern baseball techniques when crafting their approach to Sasaki. Instead, they drew inspiration from one of their all-time greats—Sandy Koufax, the Hall of Fame left-handed pitcher who had dominated Major League Baseball during the 1960s.

1. Roki Sasaki’s Meteoric Rise: A Pitcher Unlike Any Other

Before diving into the intricacies of the Dodgers’ game plan, it’s important to understand who Roki Sasaki is and why he’s such a formidable force on the mound. Sasaki burst onto the global baseball scene as a 17-year-old with the Chiba Lotte Marines in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league, showcasing a rare combination of velocity, control, and an otherworldly splitter that made him a generational talent.

In 2022, Sasaki made headlines when he became the youngest pitcher in NPB history to throw a perfect game, stunning the baseball world with his pitch arsenal. His fastball, regularly clocked at 101 mph, coupled with his devastating splitter and a slider that was as sharp as any major leaguer’s, made him an instant sensation. Not only did Sasaki have elite velocity, but he also possessed the ability to mix pitches with a precision that allowed him to dominate hitters in both Japan and on the international stage.

Despite his youth, Sasaki’s poise and mental toughness were his defining traits. It wasn’t just about overpowering hitters with sheer velocity—he also showed a level of maturity on the mound that belied his age. It was this combination of raw talent and discipline that had Dodgers’ coaches intrigued as they began crafting a plan to face him.

2. The Inspiration from Sandy Koufax: The Right Way to Dominate

The Dodgers’ pitching staff and coaching team knew they had their work cut out for them when facing Sasaki. After all, he was drawing comparisons to some of the greatest pitchers in history. Yet, in their pursuit of success against Sasaki, they turned to one of the most dominant pitchers in Dodgers’ history: Sandy Koufax.

Koufax, the left-handed ace for the Dodgers from the mid-1950s to the late 1960s, was one of the most dominant pitchers in Major League Baseball history. What made Koufax so special was his ability to completely overpower hitters through a combination of elite velocity, pinpoint control, and the devastating nature of his curveball. He could dictate the pace of the game and take complete control of at-bats through his ability to place pitches exactly where he wanted them.

The Dodgers coaches found several parallels between Koufax’s dominance and Sasaki’s. Both pitchers had a similar ability to use their fastballs as a weapon while also being able to mix in devastating secondary pitches—Koufax with his curveball and Sasaki with his splitter. Beyond the pitch selection, the mental approach to pitching was another area where the Dodgers saw a connection between the two.

Koufax’s pitching philosophy was one of simplicity and elegance. He did not rely on an array of distractions; he simply attacked hitters with a relentless mentality, focusing on precision and control. In facing Sasaki, the Dodgers’ approach mirrored Koufax’s mindset—how to focus on overpowering hitters without overthinking the process, staying calm under pressure, and trusting the pitches to do their job.

3. The Approach: Countering Sasaki’s Dominance

The Dodgers’ coaches broke down Sasaki’s strengths and weaknesses in a series of detailed meetings, armed with data from both Sasaki’s NPB career and his recent performances in international play. Sasaki’s fastball, though deadly, had an inherent flaw—its high velocity could sometimes lead to inconsistency in its placement. This gave the Dodgers an opportunity to be selective at the plate and avoid chasing pitches outside the strike zone. In fact, this mirrors the Koufax philosophy: the key to success was never to try to overpower hitters with sheer velocity but rather to make them miss with impeccable pitch placement.

The first aspect of the game plan revolved around patience. Unlike many young pitchers who would often try to blow hitters away with their fastballs, Sasaki’s tendency to lean on his elite velocity required the Dodgers to demonstrate a disciplined approach. Instead of swinging for the fences on every pitch, the Dodgers hitters were told to focus on working deep counts, letting the fastball come to them, and forcing Sasaki to prove his command of the zone.

The second key principle was attacking his splitter. Sasaki’s splitter was his signature pitch, a devastating weapon that generated countless swings and misses. Much like Koufax’s curveball, Sasaki’s splitter was a pitch that could frustrate hitters to no end. However, just as Koufax had learned to disguise his curveball and keep hitters guessing, Sasaki’s splitter could sometimes become predictable if hitters were patient enough. The Dodgers emphasized making Sasaki throw this pitch early in the count, forcing him to overuse it in an attempt to get ahead of batters. By doing so, they could set up opportunities to attack on subsequent pitches.

Finally, there was the mental aspect of the game. Both Koufax and Sasaki had a unique ability to block out distractions and focus on the task at hand. Koufax, known for his stoic demeanor, would often stand on the mound with an intense, quiet confidence that permeated the game. Sasaki, similarly, had shown an ability to keep his composure in high-pressure situations. The Dodgers knew that to succeed against Sasaki, they would need to mirror this calmness—remaining focused, even when facing a pitcher with such overwhelming talent.

4. The Execution: Patient Yet Aggressive

In the days leading up to the series, the Dodgers’ coaches stressed the importance of executing the game plan with precision. The goal was clear: they wanted to make Sasaki work hard for every out and force him to throw his pitches in uncomfortable situations. The key to this was patience at the plate while also seizing opportunities to be aggressive when the time was right.

At the start of the game, the Dodgers hitters were advised to watch the first couple of pitches closely. The first few batters were instructed to let Sasaki’s fastball come to them, laying off anything outside the strike zone and working the count. If Sasaki fell behind, the Dodgers could start looking for a pitch to drive. The key here was to avoid expanding the strike zone and making free outs, which would allow Sasaki to settle into a rhythm.

As the game went on, however, the Dodgers started to look for signs of fatigue or inconsistency. They watched closely for any decrease in Sasaki’s fastball velocity or any irregularities in the movement of his splitter. Much like the strategy used against Koufax, the Dodgers would adjust their timing and attack his pitches in predictable locations.

 Learning from the Past to Conquer the Present

The Dodgers’ approach to facing Roki Sasaki was a testament to their understanding of baseball’s timeless principles. By drawing inspiration from the legendary Sandy Koufax, the Dodgers demonstrated that even in the modern era of advanced analytics and high-speed technology, there is still immense value in learning from the past. Sasaki, despite his remarkable talent, was not invincible, and the Dodgers’ game plan capitalized on his few weaknesses while embracing the timeless values of patience, discipline, and mental toughness that have always been essential to success on the mound.

Through this comprehensive game plan, the Dodgers proved that baseball’s greatest traditions—those of composure, strategic thinking, and execution—could still be applied to even the most modern and dominant of pitchers. It was a brilliant mix of honoring the past while looking firmly toward the future, ensuring that no matter how great a pitcher might be, the Dodgers would always have a plan to take him down.