Dave Roberts, manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, worked his magic with Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki in the National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies and earned the praise of one of his stars in the Blues.
Dave Roberts’ bold move to pull Roki Sasaki for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ struggling bullpen drew a strong reaction from a star reliever.
Dave Roberts worked his magic with Roki Sasaki and earned praise from one of his Dodgers stars
During the entire 2025 MLB regular season, the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen struggled, and as the season began to wind down, manager Dave Roberts decided he was going to use some starters as relievers. And one of the most surprising choices for the postseason was Roki Sasaki, who was chosen as a bullpen pitcher and not as a starter. After this move, a veteran reliever from the bullpen shared his opinion.
In a recent interview, Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Blake Treinen spoke about Dave Roberts choosing starters as relievers. “What he’s been doing since he came back has been a blessing for us… It’s been amazing, someone who presumably has so much confidence and dominance, because we’re seeing what Roki Sasaki really is as a pitcher.”
The Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen struggled during the regular season, reflected in an overall ERA of 4.27. They allowed 608 hits and 312 earned runs while walking 240 and striking out 687. High-pressure situations often exposed weaknesses, evidenced by a 1.33 WHIP and 81 home runs allowed. Fans watched nervously as dominant starting pitchers could not fully compensate, leaving the bullpen’s reliability in constant doubt.
Since the Dodgers began integrating starters into relief roles, performance has visibly improved, especially in October.
Roki Sasaki’s return from injury
Roki Sasaki’s return from injury brought energy and velocity, pitching effectively against the Phillies, Reds, Arizona and Mariners. In those appearances, he recorded seven strikeouts, allowed zero earned runs and picked up his first MLB save in Game 1 of their NLDS matchup. The bullpen’s newfound stability has excited fans, creating tension and excitement in every crucial postseason inning.
Dave Roberts’ bold move proves that sometimes genius is just starters pretending to be relievers. Roki Sasaki’s dominance reminds everyone that even prodigies need a little push to show their full potential. Blake Treinen’s praise confirms the Dodgers’ bullpen reinvention, turning nervous fans into overnight believers this postseason. Roki Sasaki reveals what it feels like to come out of the bullpen. Once hailed as a future ace, Sasaki’s first MLB season didn’t exactly go as planned, thanks to injuries and adaptation difficulties. However, somehow, what seemed like a setback has turned into a revelation, one that could redefine how the Dodgers approach their pitching strategy in the postseason.
Roki Sasaki has quietly become the Dodgers’ secret weapon, dominating the playoffs with surgical precision. In the decisive Wild Card game against the Reds and in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Phillies, he allowed just one hit. More than 80 percent of his pitches found the strike zone, striking out three, demonstrating his talent under pressure.
Despite originally being a starter, Sasaki has embraced the intensity of the bullpen. “The fun part about relieving is the opportunity to contribute every day.” He admitted that he prepared himself for the possibility of not pitching in the regular season, appreciating the support of the staff.
Roki Sasaki’s unexpected heroic performances out of the bullpen have already rewritten what the Dodgers expect from their pitchers. Opponents now watch nervously, realizing that his triple-digit fastball leaves little room for mercy. If the playoffs are a stage, Sasaki has proven that the Dodgers chose the perfect and surprising leader.
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