Headline: Dodgers Place Roki Sasaki on Injured List Due to Blister
The Los Angeles Dodgers have officially announced that pitcher Roki Sasaki has been placed on the injured list following a 6-5 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday. Sasaki is dealing with a blister on his right middle finger.
Sasaki, 24, exited Wednesday’s game during the fourth inning after facing a series of challenging batters, including walking Ozzie Albies and conceding hits to Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Riley, and allowing a double to Sean Murphy. Trainer Thomas Albert attended to Sasaki before Edgardo Henriquez took over his duties.
In total, Sasaki threw 12 pitches in the ill-fated inning and completed 66 pitches for the game. He concluded the outing after 3 1/3 innings with 4 runs, 6 hits, and 2 walks.
After the game, Sasaki provided insight into his condition through interpreter Kensuke Okubo, revealing that the blister appeared unexpectedly.
“When I was facing the first hitter in the fourth inning, I actually didn’t feel anything coming beforehand,” Sasaki said through interpreter Kensuke Okubo afterward, via MLB.com.
“My skin just ripped off, and then after that, it got worse,” he added. “I thought I was able to manage at first because the skin was still there. But after that, it kept getting worse, and I think it affected my slider afterwards.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained that due to the severity of the blister, Sasaki needed to go on the injured list. However, as Sasaki recovers, the blister will be covered so he can continue to throw. This season, Sasaki posts a 4.60 ERA over 23 starts, along with 117 strikeouts in 119 1/3 innings.
In response to Sasaki’s absence, Eric Lauer, who holds a 3.78 ERA in 13 games, is set to fill his spot in the rotation. Reliever Seth Halvorsen has been recalled from Triple-A to take over Sasaki’s roster position. Halvorsen, recently acquired from the Colorado Rockies, boasts an impressive 0.93 ERA in 10 appearances with Oklahoma City, achieving 12.1 strikeouts per nine innings.
The Dodgers may find the timing of Sasaki’s injury fortuitous, coinciding with Tyler Glasnow’s recent activation and Blake Snell’s return to the starting rotation earlier this month. Shohei Ohtani might also be making a pitching comeback as an opener on Sunday, pending his condition after a bullpen session on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers’ rotation is set to feature Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who is scheduled to start against the Braves on Thursday, followed by Tarik Skubal, returning to Comerica Park for the first time since his trade on August 2 to face the Detroit Tigers. Snell is slated to pitch on Saturday.
Following up on a reported move after Wednesday’s 6-5 loss to the Atlanta Braves, the Los Angeles Dodgers officially announced pitcher Roki Sasaki has been placed on the injured list due to a blister on his right middle finger.
Sasaki, 24, left Wednesday’s game in the fourth inning after walking Ozzie Albies, allowing a single to Mike Yastrzemski and an RBI sacrifice fly from Austin Riley, followed by a double to Sean Murphy. Trainer Thomas Albert came out to check on Sasaki and Edgardo Henriquez soon took over.
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Altogether, Sasaki threw 12 pitches in the inning and 66 for the game. He finished with 4 runs, 6 hits and 2 walks in 3 1/3 innings.
After the game, Sasaki explained through interpreter Kensuke Okubo that the blister developed without warning.
“When I was facing the first hitter in the fourth inning, I actually didn’t feel anything coming beforehand,” Sasaki said through interpreter Kensuke Okubo afterward, via MLB.com.
“My skin just ripped off, and then after that, it got worse,” he added. “I thought I was able to manage at first because the skin was still there. But after that, it kept getting worse, and I think it affected my slider afterwards.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained that Sasaki had to go on the IL with the severity of the blister. But as Sasaki heals, the blister will be covered up so he can still throw. Sasaki currently has a 4.60 ERA in 23 starts with 117 strikeouts in 119 1/3 innings.
Eric Lauer (3.78 ERA in 13 games) is expected to take Sasaki’s turn in the rotation, while reliever Seth Halvorsen was recalled from Triple-A to fill Sasaki’s roster spot. Halvorsen, acquired from the Colorado Rockies two weeks left before the MLB trade deadline, has a 0.93 ERA in 10 appearances with Oklahoma City, striking out 12.1 batters per nine innings.
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Sasaki’s IL stint may be conveniently timed with Tyler Glasnow being activated Tuesday and Blake Snell rejoining the rotation earlier this month. Shohei Ohtani could also make his pitching return Sunday as an opener in front of Glasnow, depending on how Ohtani feels after throwing a bullpen session Friday.
Otherwise, the Dodgers’ current rotation consists of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who starts Thursday against the Braves. Tarik Skubal will follow on Friday, returning to Comerica Park to face the Detroit Tigers for the first time since he was traded on Aug. 2. Snell is scheduled to pitch Saturday.
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