Dodgers Preparing Roki Sasaki to Return as a Starter

Roki Sasaki’s return role is beginning to take shape.

Dave Roberts said Sasaki’s next outing is expected to come as a starter, allowing the Dodgers to keep him stretched out while they manage uncertainty elsewhere in the rotation.

“I think his next outing will be as a starter,” Roberts said Friday.

Sasaki is expected to be activated during the Dodgers’ upcoming series against the Padres, although Los Angeles has not announced the specific game he will start.

The decision does not mean Sasaki has earned a place in the postseason rotation. It gives the Dodgers another starting option if they need one while preserving the possibility of eventually moving him into the bullpen.

Dodgers Want to Preserve Their Rotation Depth

The Dodgers had considered bringing Sasaki back as a reliever, a role he could potentially fill during the postseason if their primary starters remain healthy.

Blake Snell’s groin injury made it more important to preserve another starting option.

Snell left Wednesday’s game against the Reds after one inning because of left groin tightness. The Dodgers remain optimistic that he will make another start before the regular season ends, but his next appearance has not been scheduled.

Keeping Sasaki stretched out gives Los Angeles insurance if Snell experiences a setback or another starter becomes unavailable.

It is much easier to move a stretched-out pitcher into the bullpen than it is to rebuild a reliever’s workload in time to start a postseason game.

That flexibility is what the Dodgers are protecting.

Sasaki Completed Four Simulated Innings

Sasaki threw four simulated innings and approximately 48 pitches Wednesday in Cincinnati.

He has remained on a starting pitcher’s progression during his time on the injured list, giving the Dodgers the option to return him directly to the rotation without requiring another lengthy buildup.

Sasaki has been sidelined since leaving his Aug. 26 start against the Braves with a blister on his right middle finger. The blister was still covered with a skin adhesive during his latest simulated appearance.

Roberts described the finger as playable and expressed hope that it will be close to fully healed by Sasaki’s next outing.

That distinction matters. Sasaki has progressed far enough to face Major League hitters again, but the Dodgers have not declared the blister completely resolved.

Sasaki Was Pitching Better Before the Injury

Sasaki’s overall numbers do not fully reflect how well he was pitching immediately before landing on the injured list.

The right-hander is 5-5 with a 4.60 ERA this season, but he recorded a 2.63 ERA across his final seven starts before the blister interrupted his progress.

His fastball had regained some of its life, and his splitter was becoming a more consistent weapon. The improvement gave Los Angeles reason to believe Sasaki was beginning to adjust after an uneven start to his rookie season.

Another regular-season start will give the Dodgers a chance to evaluate whether he can quickly rediscover that form against Major League competition.

A Start Does Not Guarantee an October Rotation Spot

The Dodgers’ projected postseason rotation remains built around Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tarik Skubal, Snell and Tyler Glasnow, provided all four are healthy.

Sasaki returning as a starter does not change that order by itself.

Instead, the Dodgers are maintaining as many options as possible.

If the primary four starters enter October healthy, Sasaki could still be considered for a bullpen role. His fastball and splitter might play well in shorter appearances, and he would provide the ability to cover multiple innings.

If the Dodgers need another starter, keeping him built up allows him to step into the rotation without attempting to increase his workload on short notice.

Sasaki’s next appearance therefore carries two purposes. It will test his readiness following the blister, and it will help Los Angeles determine where he fits best on a potential postseason pitching staff.

For now, only his immediate assignment has become clearer.

Roki Sasaki is preparing to return as a starter, but what that means for October remains to be decided.