Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki was one of the great acquisitions of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the offseason, and although his presence on the mound has been limited by a shoulder injury, his time off the diamond has not been in vain.
Sasaki, who started the second game of the season for the Dodgers, has not pitched since early May due to an impingement in his shoulder. However, the team’s manager, Dave Roberts, recently offered an optimistic outlook on the young pitcher’s progress.
“What the pitching coaches have told me is that his delivery is much more consistent,” Roberts said, who also mentioned that this has helped the Japanese pitcher to gain strength.
He is much stronger now
The Dodgers continue to add to their injury list
The Dodgers are hoping for the return of Sasaki as the trade deadline approaches
The 2025 season has been a difficult one in terms of injuries for the Dodgers’ pitching staff. Despite a solid 60-43 record after a recent win over the Twins, the team has dealt with key absences such as Sasaki and another important reinforcement, Blake Snell, so they cannot be completely calm.
New strategy for the Los Angeles Dodgers
The consistently low numbers have opened the door to speculation about a possible more aggressive strategy by the Los Angeles team ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. Meanwhile, Sasaki‘s positive recovery could be a significant boost without the need to move pieces in the market.
The team hopes to have the Japanese right-hander back soon, who, in addition to being physically stronger, would return with a more polished mechanics and his return could come at a key moment in the campaign.
When is the next Dodgers game?
The Dodgers will return to action on Friday in a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox, their rivals in the 2018 World Series. The Dodgers are currently in a prime position at the top of the National League West with a comfortable five-game lead, however, in the postseason the scenario will be more challenging so it will be crucial to face it with a more complete roster.
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