Los Angeles – The final result may not have favored the Los Angeles Dodgers, but Saturday night at Dodger Stadium delivered something more important than a win. After months of questioning his form, pitching speed, and ability to adapt to MLB, Roki Sasaki finally showed the world why he was once considered one of the most fearsome pitching talents on the planet.

In the game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sasaki didn’t just play well.

He set the radar gun on fire.

For the first time in the 2026 season, the Japanese star reached 100 mph, and then did it again. His average fastball speed reached 98.5 mph, the highest in any of Sasaki’s starts in MLB. That’s a significant increase from his average for most of the season.

And for the Dodgers, this could be more important news than any win.

Because for months, one of the most talked-about topics surrounding Sasaki has been his declining shooting speed.

Arriving in Los Angeles as a phenomenon from Japan, Sasaki was expected to bring with him the weapon that had once frustrated NPB hitters: three-digit fastballs and a nearly unstoppable splitter.

But that wasn’t entirely true.

For much of his early time in MLB, Sasaki struggled to maintain the speed that had become his trademark. While he still had some outstanding moments, he didn’t quite deliver the dominance fans had hoped for.

Until the game against the Phillies.

From the very first inning, all eyes were on the speed sheet.

A 100.1 mph fastball toward Kyle Schwarber sent the Dodger Stadium crowd into a frenzy. Shortly after, Sasaki hit 100.4 mph, marking the first time this season he’d reached the speed that made him a global phenomenon.

But the most terrifying thing wasn’t the numbers.

It was how he used them.

Sasaki didn’t just shoot faster.

He shot more effectively.

In his 5 1/3 innings, the 24-year-old allowed only 3 hits, 1 run, and 1 walk, and made 7 strikeouts against one of the most dangerous National League batters. After letting Alec Bohm home in his second inning, Sasaki went on to take down 13 Phillies batters in a row.

Many experts even consider this his most complete performance since joining the Dodgers.

What excited coach Dave Roberts the most was the combination of speed and control.

In the past, whenever Sasaki tried to increase his speed, accuracy often suffered. But this time, it was completely different.

“I think what he’s doing now is sustainable,” Roberts commented, emphasizing that Sasaki is gradually developing into a true starter for a championship-ambitious team.

Sasaki himself felt the change.

After the game, he revealed that the main reason wasn’t a mechanical adjustment to his pitching, but rather improvements in his fitness and physical performance.

“I think the adjustments to my physical condition and preparation have worked very well,” Sasaki shared.

That makes sense for what the fans just witnessed.

All four pitches in Sasaki’s arsenal were at least 1 mph faster than the season average. His fastball reached 1.5 mph. He hit 14 fastballs of 99 mph or higher – the most in any MLB game.

And perhaps for the first time since moving to America, Sasaki looked exactly like the Dodgers had always dreamed of having.

A pitcher who could overwhelm opponents with sheer power.

A pitcher who forced opposing batters to react rather than attack.

A pitcher capable of being the team’s ace in the biggest games.

Unfortunately for Sasaki, the Dodgers ultimately lost 3-4 after the bullpen lost its advantage in the final innings. The team’s six-game winning streak ended in a bitter defeat.

But even that loss couldn’t overshadow the biggest story of the night.

Roki Sasaki rediscovered his speed.

And perhaps, he rediscovered himself.

For months, the Dodgers patiently waited for this moment. They believed that the initial difficulties were simply part of the development of a young talent with very little professional experience at the highest level.

Now, positive signs are increasingly emerging.

Velocity is increasing.

Better control.

Greater confidence.

And most importantly, the overwhelming feeling that once astonished the baseball world is gradually returning.

If the performance against the Phillies was indeed a turning point, the rest of MLB may have just received a grim warning.

Because when Roki Sasaki throws 100 mph and controls everything on the mound, the Dodgers possess more than just one pitch.