The Los Angeles Dodgers have seen Roki Sasaki close out their last two games — Wild Card Game 2 and NLDS Game 1 — but manager Dave Roberts still won’t annoint him the closer of the defending champions.
The entire relief pitching situation, let alone the closer situation, in LA has been tricky all season long. As Sasaki started to not only ramp up from a shoulder impingement that kept him out for over four months, but upped his fastball velocity and command in between rehab assisgnment starts, he was expiremented with out of the bullpen and exceeded all expectation.
In his last four bullpen outings, he has totaled four innings with two hits allowed, seven strikeouts, and no walks. Nevertheless, Roberts spoke on feeling comfortable purely in specific situations to let Sasaki enter the game.
More news: Dodgers’ Roki Sasaki Reveals What He Likes, Doesn’t Like About Pitching in Relief
“Honestly, I could have went to a couple other guys in those spots,” Roberts said. “But just kind of knowing who I’ve got, I felt good about those guys we ran out there.
“And with Roki, I just felt that the lane right there, you know, asking Alex [Vesia] to do an up/down, I just felt comfortable with him right there.”
The comfort level of a rookie who had never earned a save to that point to go out to a roaring Citizens Bank Park and close out Game 1 of the NLDS with the tying run on second should be much lower, but Sasaki has proven that he is not like many.
Although this is certainly grounds to ‘earn’ a new role with the team, Roberts doesn’t want to label things and bar the 23-year-old from pitching out of other situations.
“I just don’t want to be pigeonholed into the ninth because with the way this lineup is constructed, there could be different ways where the eighth could present itself where he could be the best option,” said Roberts. “But I do consider him one of our top highest-leverage relievers for sure.”
More news: Dodgers’ Dave Roberts Had Talk With Teoscar Hernandez in September That Sparked Turnaround
Photo Credit: The Enquirer
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One Response
I am very Disappointed and Astounded by Dave Roberts’ Judgement. His use of Blake Treinen, in a very close, PIVOTAL Game, (when Treinen’s ERA has recently risen MARKEDLY), almost cost the Dodgers the Win in Game 2 against the Phillies. How could he go to Treinen, whose STATS have been TERRIBLE for over a Month? The Dodgers may have won Game 2 against the Phillies, but Roberts’ use of Treinen, almost COST the Game for the Dodgers. Treinen needs to reset. But in High Leverage Games, it is not the time to help him develop his Confidence nor improve his Stats. What in HEAVEN’S Name were you thinking Dave?