LA's Roki Sasaki remains big question mark as Dodgers host Guardians

With three comeback victories in three games during their opening series of the season, the Los Angeles Dodgers now will address their biggest question when they open a three-game home series against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday night.

The Dodgers received key relief innings from right-hander Roki Sasaki during last season's postseason run that ended in a second consecutive World Series championship. In his second major league campaign, Sasaki's move back into a starting role has been a bumpy ride.

He gave up at least three runs in all four of his spring starts, leaving him with a 15.58 ERA over 8 2/3 innings. Manager Dave Roberts never wavered from the team's decision to include Sasaki in the regular-season rotation, although his spot as the No. 4 starter is lower than originally projected.

Sasaki went 1-1 with a 4.46 ERA in 10 outings (eight starts) last season.

"Right now, we're going to run him out there," Roberts said. "... We're going to support him as much as we can, and then give him some runway, and once (his) season starts, it's about production.

"... Yeah, it hasn't been great. It really hasn't. And we know that. The standard needs to be better. He knows that, we know that. Now it's kind of go time and see how we can perform when the lights come on."

Sasaki, who has never faced the Guardians, does have a strong bullpen and a relentless offense to lean on. Dodgers relievers have not given up a run in three games and have nine strikeouts over 11 2/3 innings. Los Angeles hitters overcame 2-0 deficits in each of the first three games against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

On Saturday, Will Smith hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning and the Dodgers pulled off a 3-2 victory on the catcher's birthday and his bobblehead night. Los Angeles had a rare Sunday off day.

Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani has been held to one hit in eight at-bats (.125) with four walks (.462 on-base percentage).

"There's some pitches that he's swinging at that he's just missing," Roberts said. "... I honestly think Shohei's fine. As long as he's taking his walks, he'll slug."

The Guardians, meanwhile, went 2-2 during their season-opening series at Seattle and were thumped 8-0 on Sunday after finishing with just two hits.

After making his major league debut in last season's playoffs, Chase DeLauter is off to an impressive start after hitting four home runs over the first three games. No other Cleveland hitter has a home run so far.

DeLauter had one of Cleveland's two hits Sunday, a single to center field, to end the Mariners' combined no-hit bid in the seventh inning.

The Guardians will have left-hander Parker Messick make his season debut and first ever appearance against the Dodgers on Monday. Messick returns this season with his rookie status intact but did make seven starts with Cleveland last season, going 3-1 with a 2.72 ERA after making his debut Aug. 20.

"He came (into spring training) and hit the ground running," Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. "Parker threw two or three times on the back fields and (it was) like he was pitching in Game 6 of the ALCS.

"Just to be able to have that mentality, it's not easy for everybody. But Parker is going to take the ball and pitch whenever his name's called."

The teams also played at Los Angeles last season, with the Dodgers winning two of three games in May.

--Field Level Media