Dodgers Plan Roki Sasaki’s Return From Bullpen During Padres Series

Roki Sasaki’s expected return from the injured list now comes with a significant change of plans.

Rather than bringing Sasaki back as a starter, the Dodgers intend to use him out of the bullpen during their upcoming three-game series against the San Diego Padres.

The decision gives Los Angeles an opportunity to evaluate Sasaki in a role he could potentially fill during the postseason.

Dave Roberts said Sasaki could pitch multiple innings, but the Dodgers are not preparing to use him as a traditional bulk reliever responsible for four or five innings at a time.

“I could see multiple innings, but it’s not going to be bulk like four or five innings,” Roberts said.

The Dodgers have not announced which game Sasaki will pitch in during the Padres series.

Dodgers Reverse Their Earlier Plan For Sasaki

As recently as Friday, the expectation was that Sasaki’s next appearance would come as a starter.

The Dodgers wanted to keep him stretched out and preserve additional rotation depth while Blake Snell’s availability remained uncertain. That plan has now changed as Los Angeles organizes its pitching staff for the final week of the regular season and begins identifying potential postseason roles.

Moving Sasaki to the bullpen does not guarantee him a place on the postseason roster.

It gives him an opportunity to earn one.

The Dodgers can use the remaining regular-season games to evaluate how quickly his pitches play in shorter appearances, how he responds to entering a game in progress and whether he can provide dependable outs in meaningful situations.

Roberts Trusts Sasaki In High-Leverage Situations

Roberts did not rule out eventually using Sasaki in an important late-inning role.

“I trust Roki in any situation,” Roberts said.

That trust does not mean Sasaki will immediately be handed the ninth inning. Roberts indicated that Sasaki’s first appearance back will not begin as a save opportunity, although the flow of a game could potentially place him in a different situation than originally intended.

The Dodgers can initially use him earlier in games before deciding whether he is ready for more demanding assignments.

That distinction matters as Los Angeles continues evaluating several pitchers for postseason bullpen roles. Sasaki has the velocity and swing-and-miss arsenal to become an impact reliever, but the Dodgers still need to see how he looks after nearly a month away from Major League competition.

Sasaki Was Pitching Well Before The Blister

Sasaki has been on the 15-day injured list since August 27 because of a blister on his right middle finger.

The injury surfaced during his August 26 start against the Atlanta Braves and interfered with his ability to throw his slider. He allowed four earned runs over 3⅓ innings before leaving the game.

That abbreviated start interrupted one of Sasaki’s best stretches of the season.

He had gone 2-0 with a 2.31 ERA and 34 strikeouts over 35 innings in his previous six starts. He enters his return with a 5-5 record and a 4.60 ERA this season.

Those numbers provide important context for the Dodgers’ decision. Sasaki is not moving to the bullpen simply because he struggled as a starter. His relief assignment is also about the structure of the postseason pitching staff and where his arsenal could provide the most value.

Sasaki Has Already Proven He Can Handle October Relief Work

The bullpen will not be an entirely unfamiliar assignment for Sasaki.

After returning from a lengthy shoulder absence late last season, he made two scoreless relief appearances before becoming one of the Dodgers’ most important pitchers during their postseason run.

Sasaki allowed only one earned run across 10⅔ innings in nine playoff appearances and converted all three of his save opportunities. His fastball and splitter were particularly effective in shorter outings, allowing him to attack hitters without managing his workload like a starter.

That experience gives the Dodgers a reason to explore the role again.

It does not mean Sasaki will automatically reclaim the same postseason responsibilities. Los Angeles must first determine whether his command, velocity and finger are ready for high-pressure innings.

Padres Series Becomes Sasaki’s October Audition

Sasaki’s return will be about more than proving that his blister has healed.

The Dodgers need to determine where he fits.

A strong showing against San Diego could place him firmly in the postseason bullpen conversation and eventually open the door to high-leverage opportunities. If his command is inconsistent or his pitches lack their usual sharpness, Los Angeles will have to consider a more limited role—or whether he belongs on the October roster at all.

The plan is no longer to rebuild Sasaki as a starter before the regular season ends.

The Dodgers will instead use the Padres series to find out whether he can become a difference-maker out of the bullpen again.