The Dodgers have a bullpen dilemma heading into the postseason, and one intriguing solution might be emerging in rookie phenom Roki Sasaki. After a long road back from injury, Sasaki’s resurgence could prove crucial as the Dodgers look to make another deep October run.
Since being recalled on September 25, Sasaki has been pitching in his second big-league stint after missing over four months with a right shoulder impingement. His return to the Dodgers was not guaranteed. Still, after making a series of rehab appearances in Triple-A Oklahoma City, the organization decided his best path back was as a reliever. Transitioning from a starter’s routine to a bullpen role wasn’t immediate, but Sasaki has quickly begun to look like himself again.
His most impressive outing came on September 26 against the Seattle Mariners, when he dominated the top of their lineup. Sasaki flashed his electric stuff, pumping 100 mph fastballs and unleashing a devastating splitter that fell off the table, striking out MVP candidate Cal Raleigh along the way. Performances like that have turned heads and suggested he could thrive in high-leverage situations.
That potential was on full display during the Dodgers’ Wild Card series against the Reds. While starters Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto both delivered strong outings, the bullpen faltered in their absence. On Tuesday, after Snell’s seven dominant innings, the bullpen would struggle immensely as Alex Vesia, Edgardo Henriquez, and Jack Dreyer allowed three runs over just two innings. It was perhaps the Dodgers' worst bullpen outing in their recent stretch. The following night, a similar story played out as Emmet Sheehan and Vesia again struggled to protect a lead after Yamamoto exited.
Enter Sasaki. Tasked with the closer’s role in a critical spot, the 23-year-old rose to the occasion. He struck out two of the three batters he faced, shutting the door with poise and electric stuff. Sasaki’s composure in such a high-stakes moment wasn’t surprising; he was a key contributor for Team Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and has long been accustomed to pressure situations.
Could Sasaki be the answer to the Dodgers’ late-inning woes? Manager Dave Roberts certainly thinks so. “I trust him, and he’s going to be pitching in leverage,” Roberts told the Los Angeles Times’ Jack Harris. “The more you pitch guys and play guys, you learn more … I don’t think the moment’s going to be too big for Roki.”
With the Dodgers now preparing to face the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS, Sasaki’s emergence as a potential closer could be a game-changer. If he can continue to harness his electric arsenal and thrive under pressure, he just might be the stabilizing force the bullpen desperately needs.