Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Blake Treinen praised rookie Roki Sasaki after his stellar performances since his return from injury at the end of the regular season.
Sasaki has featured in four games since coming back from right-shoulder impingement which landed him on the injured list in May, and is yet to allow a run across any of them. Sasaki took on a new role in the bullpen upon his return, and has finally rediscovered his velocity and ability to generate swing and miss. Through his four innings pitched since returning, he has seven strikeouts.
“What he’s been doing since he’s been back has been a godsend to us,” Dodgers veteran reliever Blake Treinen said. “It’s been amazing somebody that is presumably that confident, and dominant, because we’re seeing what R?ki Sasaki really is as a pitcher.”
More news: Dave Roberts Still Declines to Name Roki Sasaki the Dodgers’ Closer After NLDS Game 1
The Dodgers have slowly eased Sasaki into high-leverage situations, having him pitch in games which didn’t matter much at the end of the regular season, then with a four-run lead against the Reds in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series and finally in a save situation against the Phillies on Saturday.
He recorded his first MLB save against the Phils in Game 1, and will certainly be an asset for the Dodgers’ bullpen for the remainder of the postseason. Roberts revealed the only player who would be unavailable out of the bullpen for Game 2 is Tyler Glasnow, who threw 34 pitches in Game 1, so Sasaki could very well come out for the Dodgers once again if they find themselves in a pinch.
More news: Dodgers’ Roki Sasaki Reveals What He Likes, Doesn’t Like About Pitching in Relief
Blake Snell will make his second start this postseason in Game 2, and will look to give the Dodgers another strong seven innings so they can take a huge two-game advantage back to Dodger Stadium. The second game of the NLDS begins on Monday at 3:08 p.m. PT.
Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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4 Responses
After the near collapse in game 2?tonight, can we please stop with the Blake Treinen/Tanner Scott experiment?
Neither one of them should pitch again in the playoffs this year unless our boys are losing by 5+ runs to save arms that actually can contribute this season in a hopefully long playoff run. This was pathetic and save for Freemen bailing out whatever that was from Efman, we lose this game. Roberts had to stop pretending either of these guys can help in a high leverage situation.
Gavin Roberts will lose this year if he keeps it up . Give us Chase Utley please.
I was astounded when Roberts put in Treinen last night. Blown every opportunity he needs to go and I was pleased the other night when he decided to put in Tyler but last night, I almost had a heart attack and he blew it again. What does it take? I agree with you on everything.
I always hope for the best when Treinen or Scott are used as closers. They are not. One message to Roberts. Have both take a train away from baseball. By the way Treinen is a dutch word for Trains
Blue