Sasaki is producing mediocre results that are embarrassing to call him a 'monster' among real monsters. Is it simply bad luck? The indicators tell a different story.

On the 10th (Korean time), Sasaki started a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, pitching 4 innings, allowing 5 hits (2 home runs), 1 hit by pitch, 2 walks, and 5 earned runs before leaving the mound. Sasaki was in danger of losing, but the Dodgers scored 6 runs in the 9th, including a 3-run shot from Shohei Ohtani, achieving a dramatic comeback victory of 14-11.

Sasaki picked up his first win in his debut on the 4th against the Atlanta Braves, pitching 5 innings, allowing 6 hits (1 home run), 2 walks, 1 hit by pitch, 4 strikeouts, and 3 earned runs. However, on this day, Sasaki was making his first start after 5 days of rest. In Japan's professional baseball, he pitched once a week. While most Japanese pitchers had to follow a 6-day rest rotation, he had to adhere to Major League Baseball's (MLB) rules. However, Yoshinobu Yamamoto also finds the 5-day rest rotation unfamiliar. Having just made his MLB debut and having received meticulous management in Japan, it was particularly tough for Sasaki. MLB officials expressed concerns about the short intervals between Sasaki's starts.

Ultimately, on this day, Sasaki was unable to perform well. He threw 22 four-seam fastballs, 28 splitters, and 11 sliders. His fastball reached a top speed of 97.5 mph (156.9 km/h), but the average speed was only 94.8 mph (152.6 km/h), falling short of the season average speed of 96 mph (154.5 km/h). Most importantly, Arizona hitters did not swing and miss on any of Sasaki's fastballs that day.

Sasaki allowed home runs in five consecutive games and, on this day, did not record a single strikeout. The solo home run allowed to Ketel Marte in the 1st inning and the two-run home run to Eugenio Suárez were both surrendered due to flat four-seam fastballs. The four-seam fastballs were 94.8 mph (152.6 km/h) and 94.2 mph (151.6 km/h), respectively. The blazing fastball of 165 km/h that he boasted in Japan has completely disappeared. Most importantly, the concerns that were genuinely feared have now become reality. Sasaki's fastball velocity was acknowledged, but there were often questions about the quality of the fastball that was obscured by the velocity. Currently, Sasaki's four-seam fastball resembles a batting practice pitch. In Korea, it is often referred to as a 'stickball'.

According to 'Statcast', Sasaki's four-seam fastball has a revolutions per minute (RPM) of only 2080 this year. This ranks in the bottom 10%, making it one of the worst in Major League Baseball. While the average speed of his four-seam fastball falls into the top 21%, it cannot be considered commensurate with its velocity. Additionally, the vertical movement of the four-seam fastball is only 14.3 inches (about 36.3 cm), ranking 44th among 56 pitchers who threw 250 or more fastballs this year. In percentile terms, this is only about the bottom 12%.

As the power of Sasaki's four-seam fastball diminishes, it is natural that the rate of swings and misses on the fastball, like in the game against Arizona, is also low. The swing and miss rate on his fastball is 10.1%, which is among the lowest in the league.

Sasaki's four-seam fastball has thus become an unappealing pitch in Major League Baseball. Sasaki, who was called a 'monster' in Japan's professional baseball, is insignificant in the face of the true monsters in Major League Baseball. Manager Dave Roberts hopes that Sasaki forgets this outing and rebounds. After the game against Arizona, Roberts noted in an interview, 'He struggled from the start of the game. The fact that he had no strikeouts means that Sasaki was unable to overpower the hitters.' He added, 'The hitters really swung well, and Sasaki couldn't finish off easily, even in favorable counts. He should have been able to close it out in those counts but did not.'

He added, 'Both the fastball and splitter lacked precision today, and the sharpness was also down. I hoped he wouldn't overexert himself today. I expect him to return to normal condition in the next outing.'

He made a glamorous entry into Major League Baseball, labeled as the pitcher of the century, receiving attention on the level of Shohei Ohtani. However, Sasaki has not been able to showcase the unique form of a special pitcher from Japan in Major League Baseball.

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