How Roki Sasaki’s rise factors into Dodgers’ pursuit of Tarik Skubal

NEW YORK – Roki Sasaki isn’t only pitching better. By his own estimation, he’s also more handsome. Asked about the larger glove he started wearing after the All-Star break to address his problems with pitch-tipping, Sasaki played dumb by describing it as an optical illusion. “My face became smaller,” he said in Japanese, “so it just looks [bigger].” In Japan, a kogao, or small face, is considered attractive. Sasaki joked that he received treatment on his face over the All-Star break. Which is a good sign for the Dodgers. Los Angeles Dodgers’ Roki Sasaki pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, July 24, 2026, in New York. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II Sasaki reacts as he walks off the field after the seventh inning against the New York Mets at Citi