The Los Angele Dodgers are getting Roki Sasaki back for the team’s last marquee regular-season series against the San Diego Padres.
Sasaki is on the injured list because a blister formed on his right middle finger during his last start.
He last pitched on August 26th against the Atlanta Braves, throwing 3.1 innings and 66 pitches before he was pulled with the training alongside him.
The Japanese pitcher took a few days to rest and let the blister heal, and Sasaki has since done multiple bullpen sessions and a live batting practice outing.
Roki Sasaki threw another bullpen session on Saturday, September 19th, before the San Fransico Giants game, Dodgers Nation’s Noel Sanchez reports.
According to manager Dave Roberts, the organization plans to start Sasaki at some point early next week, during the last home series of the year against the Padres.
“We haven’t settled yet, but I think it’s going to be in that San Diego series,” Roberts said to the media, including Dodgers Nation.
“Whether it’s to start the game or pitch innings out of the bullpen, it will be multiple innings for sure.
“I just don’t know exactly when, but it’ll be in that San Diego series.”
The plan for Roki Sasaki changed
The Dodgers were not sure about Sasaki’s status for a long time, not due to his health, but rather how they want to deploy him.
In the playoffs, he is set to join the bullpen as long-relief coverage or a high-leverage arm.
However, Blake Snell’s injury scare left his status unclear, with a possible rotation spot opening up.
Since Snell’s early exit in his last, things have started trending up, and all signs point to him pitching in the postseason.
This leaves Sasaki once again looking at the bullpen in October, but for the remainder of the regular season, to make sure their starters get rest, the Dodgers want Sasaki to make a starter and transition to the bullpen outright in the postseason.
One Response
Numerous Dodger pitchers have been injured both this season and last season. Are we a jinx or is it happenstance?