Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts would need Roki Sasaki among his pitchers for the MLB Playoffs. The Japanese player is looking to be one of the pawns with which the manager will play this postseason, which will formally begin tomorrow, October 1, against the Cincinnati Reds, who have slipped into the next phase of the league after almost six years.
Los Dodgers also had decisions to make in the bullpen. A day before the rosters were finalized, Dave Roberts shared that right-hander Gus Varland was expected to be part of the postseason bullpen. Ryan Yarbrough and Emmet Sheehan were also scheduled to move from the rotation to the bullpen for this series.
Dodgers did not have Roki Sasaki for months due to injury
After beginning the regular season as a starting pitcher, Sasaki missed months with a shoulder impingement. However, after having some rehab starts in OKC to get his game back on track, Los Angeles decided to give him a shot coming out of the bullpen, placing the lifelong starter in reserve before watching him flourish.
With the runway clear and a bullpen desperately in need of at least some reliable options, Sasaki has appeared in two games as a middle reliever for the Dodgers down the stretch and has looked incredible in the role, striking out four of the seven batters he has faced and allowing just one hit in his 25 pitches thrown.
Roki Sasaki earned Dave Roberts’ trust
When talking about what he has seen from Sasaki and how he fits into the Dodgers’ plans for the playoffs, manager Dave Roberts revealed that while the playoff roster is not yet set, he believes the rookie pitcher has earned his trust and a place on the lineup card.
The manager revealed that Roki Sasaki ‘earned’ his trust and expects a playoff roster spot. After two great performances in the Dodgers bullpen, Dave Roberts reveals that Roki Sasaki has earned his trust ahead of the playoffs. “The way he pitched, the big games he’s pitched in before, that’s something I can rely on,” Roberts said.
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