Sasaki reaches 99 mph with his fastball, a significant improvement over his bullpen sessions and live batting practice. “This is the best we’ve seen him,” Dave Roberts says.

The Dodgers will test that floor from the outset, with Sasaki slated to pitch the latter of the two games against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo and expected to be in the starting rotation thereafter. Roberts confirmed that was still the Dodgers’ plan Tuesday, as Sasaki pitched for the first time in Cactus League action against the Cincinnati Reds.

In his first MLB appearance, Dodgers rookie Roki Sasaki displayed all the tools that made him such a coveted commodity.