Sasaki‘s Velocity Reignites Postseason Hope for Dodgers
Oklahoma City, OK – โฃ Roki Sasaki showcased impressive form Tuesday, reaching 100 mph on six pitches โduring a four-inning rehab start for triple-A Oklahoma City,โข perhaps thrusting himself back into consideration for a role on the Los Angeles Dodgers’ postseason pitching staff.
Theโฃ 23-year-oldโ Sasaki, who has been recovering from a shoulder impingement that landed him on the injured list in mid-May, allowed just one hit through the first four innings before โคtiring in the fifth, givingโฃ up three โฃruns on โฃtwo hits, two walks, and a โขhit batter.โ He threw a total of โ90 pitches, โค52 for strikes, โขwhile striking out eight and walking four.
“We’ve all got to huddle up and figureโ out what’s the next plan,”โ Dodgers manager โขDave Roberts โคsaid after the game. โ”I personally don’t knowโฃ Roki’s โฃplan after tonight.”
Sasaki’s initial four rehab appearances were challenging, yielding 17 hits and 11 earned runs โacross 14 innings. Prior โto the injury, he posted a 1-1 record with a 4.72 ERA in eight starts for the Dodgers. While a rotationโ spotโค appearsโข unlikely, Roberts indicated Sasaki could be considered for bullpen duty.
“Anything’s possible,” Roberts stated. “I knowโ he wants to contribute. So we’ve just got โฃto โขsee where he fits in. And we’ll have โขthat โconversation โas an association.”
the potential addition of Sasaki comes as the Dodgers navigate increasingly difficult roster decisions with two weeks remaining in the regular โคseason. Left-hander Alex Vesia returned from the injured list Tuesday after recoveringโ from โคa right oblique strain, having previously been 3-2 with a 2.75 ERA โขin 59 games. To make room โขfor โVesia, right-hander Ben Casparius was optioned to Oklahoma City, where he had โฃaโ 7-5 record and a 4.64 ERA in โค46 games.
“The conversation with Benโข yesterday wasn’t fun for anyone,” Roberts acknowledged. “It starts to get tougher.”
Roberts anticipates another challenging roster move Wednesday with the activation of utility player Tommy โEdman from the injured list.Outfielder Justin Dean, who has primarily served as a defensive replacement and has โonly two at-bats in 18 games, is considered the โmost likely candidate to be sent down.
