It’s a tough break for the Dodgers as promising rookie Roki Sasaki has landed on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement, reminiscent of an issue he battled last season in Japan. The 23-year-old right-hander disclosed soreness following his last start, where he pitched for the first time on five days’ rest in the majors, struggling through four innings while surrendering five runs on 61 pitches against the Diamondbacks.
Manager Dave Roberts shared that Sasaki had been dealing with discomfort for several weeks but showed determination to push through until he felt his performance was at risk. “What we gather is he’s felt some discomfort for the last few weeks,” Roberts noted after a lopsided 11-1 loss to the Athletics. It’s clear that Sasaki wanted to contribute to the team despite not being at full strength.
Following scans on the day off on Monday, the severity of the issue was revealed, leaving Roberts cautious about setting a timeline for Sasaki’s return. “I don’t think that any expectation is fair to him,” he admitted.
In his eight starts this season, Sasaki has posted a 1-1 record with a 4.72 ERA, showcasing flashes of his potential with 24 strikeouts over 34⅓ innings while keeping opposing hitters to a .225 average. As the Dodgers gear up to face the Athletics again, they’ll likely need to rely on a bullpen game in his absence.
Roberts indicated that Sasaki will be sidelined from throwing for a while, but there’s a sense of relief that the injury is something familiar for the young pitcher. He joined the Dodgers in January after four impressive years with the Chiba Lotte Marines, but faced challenges last season due to shoulder fatigue that limited his innings.
“We’re very grateful that with the scans we took, that it is similar to what he’s already been through before,” Roberts added. “We just feel that with some rest, getting the strength back, and returning to his normal delivery, he’s going to be just fine.”
Sasaki burst onto the scene with a reputation for hitting 100 mph in Japan, and he came out firing in his major league debut against the Cubs in Tokyo, frequently reaching 99 mph in the first inning. However, since that first outing, he’s struggled to replicate that velocity, with his fastball now averaging in the mid-90s.
Roberts and the coaching staff are actively looking for solutions. “We’re still trying to have conversations to see where he’s at,” Roberts said. “At the end of the day, we want to make sure that he is performing up to his capabilities and ours.”
With a focus on getting Sasaki healthy again, Roberts doesn’t anticipate sending him down to the minors. “Our goal is to get him healthy, get him strong, make sure the delivery is sound, and get him to pitch for us,” he explained. It’s been a challenging stretch for Sasaki, whose Dodger Stadium debut was marred by control issues, visibly affecting him emotionally as he left the field.
Going on the injured list might serve as a needed reset for Sasaki, who has faced high expectations this season. “To think he was going to go wire-to-wire given his track record and history of innings was probably unrealistic,” Roberts reflected. “This could be that little bit of reprieve in the middle of the season that we can get him back to being healthy and a hundred percent to help us push through the World Series.”
Sasaki’s setback adds another layer of difficulty to a Dodgers rotation already feeling the impact of injuries to Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow. On a more positive note, Clayton Kershaw is set to make his season debut after starting the year on the IL, offering a glimmer of hope for fans in this turbulent moment.
In the meantime, right-hander J.P. Feyereisen has been recalled for a second stint with the Dodgers, aiming to solidify the bullpen as they navigate this recent wave of challenges. The Dodgers will need every arm they can muster as they press forward in the season amid these unexpected hurdles.
