Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that right-hander Roki Sasaki will start the fourth game of the regular season against the Cleveland Guardians, despite a troubling spring in which the Japanese pitcher posted a 15.58 ERA and repeatedly failed to complete innings.

Sasaki's final exhibition outing against the Los Angeles Angels produced five earned runs, six walks, and zero hits across two innings on 66 pitches. He did not record an out before being pulled in the first.

"I was trying to find a game feel today, before the games start," Sasaki said through interpreter Kensuke Okubo. "The results were really bad today, so I couldn't really find it."

Roberts acknowledged the struggles while holding firm on his starter's spot.

"It hasn't been great. It really hasn't. And we know that," Roberts said. "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."

The Dodgers' options are limited. Blake Snell and Gavin Stone begin the year on the injured list, and River Ryan remains on a cautious schedule following Tommy John surgery. Justin Wrobleski will serve in a piggyback bullpen role during Sasaki's opening start as a contingency.

"We're going to run him out there," Roberts said. "Once the season starts, then it's about production."

Sasaki battled erratic fastball command, persistent arm-side misses, and mechanical inconsistencies throughout spring camp. The organization maintains that developing him at the major-league level remains the optimal long-term path, though his runway entering the regular season appears short.