Sasaki to make one more start for Dodgers before regular season concludes

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CINCINNATI -- Heralded by the thumping beat of "Bailalo Rocky," Roki Sasaki opened eyes and electrified Chavez Ravine as the postseason closer during the Dodgers' run to back-to-back championships. The 24-year-old could be poised for a return to the 'pen for L.A.'s three-peat bid -- but he'll make at least one more start before the end of the regular season.

Sasaki has been sidelined since exiting his Aug. 26 start in Atlanta due to a blister on his right middle finger, and he should be activated from the 15-day injured list during the Dodgers' final homestand, likely in next week's series against the Padres.

The Dodgers had been considering getting Sasaki reacclimated to the bullpen before the postseason, but they kept the option of him starting open. Sasaki has remained stretched out during his time on the IL, most recently throwing four simulated innings on 48 pitches on Wednesday afternoon in Cincinnati.

"There's benefits both ways," manager Dave Roberts said. "One can argue it's best to take down a couple starts, keep him built up. Because if something does happen, he's built up. The other side is you can assimilate him into the 'pen and get comfortable in that role -- if that is the role. And so again, that's why we have to be really thoughtful with that."

On Wednesday night, the benefit of having additional rotation depth in Sasaki became clear when Blake Snell exited his start against the Reds after just one inning due to left groin tightness. Removing him from the game was seen as more of a precautionary move, but it exposed the somewhat tenuous state of the Dodgers' starting pitching at present.

If the projected postseason rotation of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tarik Skubal, Snell and Tyler Glasnow remain healthy, then the Dodgers will be in a great place. But there are question marks behind the Big Four. Shohei Ohtani will not pitch again this season. Justin Wrobleski moved to the bullpen and has been much shakier in the second half. Emmet Sheehan, who's currently with Triple-A Oklahoma City, is trending upward after his two most recent starts in the Majors -- but has been inconsistent overall.

Yamamoto is the only member of L.A.'s rotation who has not missed a start this season. Both Skubal and Snell had surgery to remove loose bodies from their left elbows. Glasnow spent more than three months on the IL due to lower back spasms, a recurring issue for him. The Dodgers have been proactive with managing Glasnow's back, as Roberts said he flew back to L.A. early to cut out an additional flight segment in between last Saturday's start in Miami and his next scheduled start on Friday.

Should anything happen to those four, Sasaki would figure to be the next arm up in the rotation. Sasaki has broken out in his second Major League season, even though his 5-5 record and 4.60 ERA may seem underwhelming at first glance. After a shaky start to the campaign, Sasaki introduced a new splitter and began to consistently throw his fastball harder, helping him achieve sustainable success as a starter. He posted a 2.63 ERA in seven starts before the blister issue arose.

Because Sasaki is returning from an injury, there may be some rust for him to knock off. He is still pitching with the blister, but Roberts said he felt good after covering it with Dermabond in his most recent bullpen session and simulated game.

"It's playable," Roberts said. "Given the Dermabond, the time that he'll have in between this next outing, the hope is that it's dang near close to being healed."

The Dodgers expect Sasaki to play an important role on their postseason pitching staff, even though they're not sure which role he'll fulfill -- but it is easier to shorten him up to pitch in relief rather than have to build him back up to start. After the latest injury concern, opting to keep starting on the table for Sasaki has already proven wise.