Today, those anecdotes are usually punctuated by a reference to Driveline or another similar facility. And they almost always relate to an error from the previous year. A hitter who had trouble making hard contact did swing speed training in the winter. A pitcher who faded in the second half changed his diet to improve endurance.
Three starters stand out because they have to make drastic changes in the run-up to the 2026 season. Two of them are well on their way, while the third is more of a question mark. Here’s a quick look at each pitcher through the lens of the challenge they face in the coming year.
Michael Lorenzen vs. Coors Field
The right-wing veteran encounters this obstacle of his own accord. It is one of the most imposing obstacles in all of sports. Lorenzen signed a one-year deal worth $8 million with the Rockies, meaning he will call Coors Field home. The location surpasses all others in terms of offensive production. Coors easily tops Statcast’s Park Factors leaderboard, scoring a 113 over the past three seasons. Fenway Park is a distant second at 104. Coors Field is No. 1 in Park Effect for Hits, Runs, Singles and OBP from 2023 to 2025.
Fortunately, Lorenzen already has a plan. He plans to lean on an eight-pitch mix to take over Coors Field. “I feel like I own the shapes (of my pitches)… I just know what I’m trying to do, I know the feeling I’m going for and the shape I’m trying to create”, Lorenzen told reporters, among others Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post. “But obviously being in Colorado has its challenges, so I’m going to be heading there soon to throw some bullpens and just see how exactly these shapes are going to move..”
Lorenzen threw seven pitches last season, according to Baseball Savant. He used the sweeper only 8.2% of the time, but every other offering was above 10%. Lorenzen’s most common throw was his four-seamer, although he still only threw it at a 22% clip. The 34-year-old right-hander posted a 4.64 ERA with Kansas City. He was likely looking for a deep starter/swingman role elsewhere, but signing with Colorado gives him a good chance to fit into a rotation.
“We didn’t have to convince him of anything; he ran towards this challenge” said head of baseball operations Paul DePodesta. “Michael definitely wanted to pitch here. … I don’t think he’s afraid of anything. This is a challenge that he actually (eagerly) wanted to take on.”
Roki Sasaki versus a starter’s arsenal
Maybe Lorenzen Sasaki can borrow a few fields. He’ll need them when he returns to the rotation. The NPB import struggled in his first taste of the major leagues, posting a 4.46 ERA with 28 strikeouts and 22 walks across eight starts. Sasaki was placed on the IL in May with a shoulder injury. He returned at the end of the season and emerged as the best reliever in the Dodgers’ bullpen. Sasaki allowed just one earned run in 10 2/3 innings in the postseason. He scored three saves and two holds.
Sasaki’s splitter was as advertised, recording a strong whiff rate of 37.2% as his go-to punchout pitch. The rest of the repertoire left much to be desired. Sasaki threw his fastball about half the time. It rarely missed bats (11.1% scent rate) and was beaten up for a .500 SLG. Sasaki threw a slider 16.3% of the time, but had a zone rate of less than 40%.
The plan is for Sasaki to return to the rotation in 2026. Blake SnellThe slow build this offseason could make it easier to fit Sasaki. Relying on a fastball/splitter combination isn’t normally a viable approach for a starter, and manager Dave Roberts agrees. “He needs to develop a third throw,” Roberts shared Dylan Hernandez for the New York Post.“It will have to be something that goes to the left.”
Sasaki works on a cutter and a two-seam, by Hernández. The former would fit the bill as something moving away from a right-handed hitter. Both throws could help Sasaki find the zone more often. Last year he had a success rate of 59.3%, almost 5% below the league average.
Shota Imanaga versus his floundering Fastball
Imanaga’s “soaring” fastball was the main driver of his success in 2024. The pitch, combined with an elite splitter and a pair of breaking balls, propelled the southpaw to a sub-3.00 ERA with striking control in his rookie season. Imanaga got off to a strong start in 2025, but the wheels came off in early May after a hamstring injury. The veteran posted a 4.14 ERA after returning from the IL. He gave up 24 home runs in 17 starts. The struggle continued in the playoffs, as Imanaga was tagged for six earned runs in 6 2/3 postseason innings, including three more home runs.
The fastball was definitely different after the injury. Imanaga’s heater slipped by half a tick in velocity and by 1.5 inches in induced vertical break. Stuff+ on the field went from a strong 112 to a disappointing 98. (h/t to Carson Wolf on X for digging up those splits)
If Imanaga’s fastball doesn’t have its elite characteristics, the home runs will keep coming. Hitters have put the ball in the air against Imanaga at a hefty 66.1% clip in his two MLB seasons. Those balls found the gloves of outfielders when his arsenal was at its most effective, but last year they squared off and left the yard.
Perhaps a break for the hamstrings will be the relief Imanaga needs to get back on track. An adjustment here or there could also alleviate concerns about his primary pitch. Either way, Imanaga will be someone to keep a close eye on this spring.
Photo courtesy of William Liang, Imagn Images
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