LOS ANGELES -- Roki Sasaki opened eyes when he moved to the bullpen for last year's run to back-to-back championships. He'll reprise that role in the final days of this regular season -- and possibly be in the mix to close out games once again.
Sasaki was activated from the 15-day injured list ahead of Tuesday night's series-opening 7-0 win over the Padres amid a flurry of moves that also saw Andy Pages return from the IL and Emmet Sheehan and Eliezer Alfonzo get optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Sasaki last pitched on Aug. 26, when a blister on his right middle finger brought his start against the Braves to a premature end.
In his return to the bullpen on Tuesday, Sasaki struck out two in a scoreless fourth inning, working around a pair of two-out singles. He generated four whiffs -- including two in as many swings at his splitter -- and averaged 98.7 mph on the eight fastballs he threw, a tick up from his season average of 97.8.
"I was able to settle in because I had the experience last year," Sasaki said through interpreter Kensuke Okubo.
The Dodgers improved to 97-60 after their bullpen game shutout, five games ahead of the Braves for the second-best record in the National League and one game behind the top-ranked Brewers, who hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.
In his second Major League season, Sasaki was steadily growing closer to resembling the version of himself who was a phenom in Nippon Professional Baseball. He went 5-5 with a 4.60 ERA through 23 starts, but those numbers don't tell the full story. Working with an expanded pitch mix, including a new splitter, and increased fastball velocity, Sasaki put together his best sustained stretch as an MLB starter, recording a 2.63 ERA through seven starts before dealing with the blister.
Last year, Sasaki's shift to relief was an unprecedented move. After underperforming to begin his rookie season and then missing more than four months with a shoulder injury, Sasaki's only chance to contribute to the Dodgers in the postseason was to move to the 'pen.
Sasaki didn't just contribute -- he became the Dodgers' postseason closer, allowing just one earned run in 10 2/3 innings (0.84 ERA). The confidence he gained from getting results at the big league level, with the stakes as high as could be, fueled the 24-year-old right-hander's return to the rotation and eventual midseason breakout this year.
"It's just showing that whatever it takes to help us win, knowing that any inning he throws in the postseason is going to be huge," manager Dave Roberts said. "He clearly understands that.”
The Dodgers are currently working without a set closer, as Edwin Díaz is pitching in low leverage amid his season-long struggles as he looks to earn a role in the postseason bullpen. Díaz struck out a pair in a 1-2-3 fifth inning on Tuesday, his third scoreless outing since returning from the IL.
It has been a long time since Sasaki has pitched in relief, but if he can show Roberts enough in the final week before the postseason, he could very well be an option in save situations.
With Díaz missing time with elbow and neck injuries -- and not pitching well when healthy -- left-hander Tanner Scott has gotten the bulk of save opportunities. Scott leads the Dodgers with 23 saves, but he's also blown four saves, including two since the start of September.
Scott may still be the best option to close out games, but Sasaki could complement him from the right-hand side, which is important with leverage righty Edgardo Henriquez out for the rest of the regular season with a lower back strain (he is expected back during the postseason).
If Díaz continues to trend in the right direction, Roberts said he could be back in the closer mix as well.
While Roberts would like to have a closer in the postseason, he acknowledged that it's more likely that he will play the matchups. At this time of year, some of the highest-leverage situations take place before the ninth inning, so having multiple options would free up Roberts to use his best relievers in the lanes that make sense.
"You just don't know where the ninth inning is going to be," Roberts said.
If Sasaki gets the call, he'll be ready.
"I'm just going to give my best, whatever opportunity I'm given," Sasaki said. "Doesn't matter if it's a couple innings or not, just go out there and perform."