LOS ANGELES – A smarter, healthier and more experienced Roki Sasaki is closing in on a return to the Dodgers’ pitching staff by the start of September.
Also up soon is a decision on how to use the right-hander.
Signed as a starter in January out of his native Japan, Sasaki struggled with his command in eight starts to begin his major league career and had a 1-1 record with a 4.72 ERA.
Pain-free now after a shoulder impingement and advancing in his rehab program, Sasaki had a bullpen session Tuesday in advance of a three-inning simulated game Friday. A minor league rehab start is scheduled for next week.
“Obviously, he is a starter; we see him as that,” manager Dave Roberts said. “You just don’t know what’s gonna happen with starting pitching. So I think right now, it’s just more of continuing to build him up, see how it looks, and then if there’s a different conversation that needs to be had later …
“But right now, we see him as a starter.”
The Dodgers have six starters at the present time and that’s with right-hander Dustin May traded to the Boston Red Sox last week.
Blake Snell, Clayton Kershaw, Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, Emmet Sheehan and Yoshinobu Yamamoto all are in the rotation.
Even if the Dodgers unseat one of those pitchers and add Sasaki to the rotation down the stretch, in all likelihood he would not be included in a four-man playoff rotation. He could have value as a long man in the bullpen come October, but probably not without experience in the role.
“Regardless of my role, I’m just out there, just making sure that I am able to compete and make sure I get major league hitters out,” Sasaki said Tuesday through interpreter Will Ireton in his first comments since mid-May.
“So it’s really not up to me to determine what my role is. My job is to make sure I get big league hitters out.”
To help accomplish that goal, Sasaki has been working on a new two-seam fastball, which is at the heart of Ohtani’s arsenal.
“It’s probably a combination of the pitching coaches, probably watching Shohei, probably watching major league hitters,” Roberts said of Sasaki’s new two-seamer. “To have two separate fastballs, one that potentially could miss a bat, one that could put a ball on the ground, those are two good weapons. So I appreciate that Roki is open to the two-seamer as well.”
While his initial run in the rotation into May was rough at times, Sasaki said those 34 1/3 innings will be a benefit to him now.
“American hitters have different approaches at the plate compared to Japanese hitters,” Sasaki said about what he learned earlier this year. “So, you know, I can’t really attack the same way that I used to in Japan. They have different strengths and weaknesses. So just being able to have more variety in the way I attack the hitters.”
In a perfect scenario, the Dodgers will build up Sasaki to as many as six innings over the next three weeks plus before he returns. After that, it is up to the right-hander to take it from there.
“My every intention is to get back on the major league mound and pitch again,” Sasaki said. “With that being said, I do need to fight for the opportunity too. I don’t think that I’ll just be given the opportunity right away. So you know this month is going to be important for me, since I’ll be facing hitters throughout.”
MORE OPTIONS AHEAD
Along with Sasaki, left-hander Tanner Scott and right-hander Michael Kopech also threw bullpen sessions Tuesday. Scott has been out with elbow inflammation, while Kopech underwent a procedure on the meniscus in his right knee.
Those pitchers also line up for a late-August, early-September return. It means that even the bullpen will be crowded if Sasaki is added to that group.
The Dodgers used a 13-man pitching staff in each playoff series last October. But with Ohtani pitching this year, the staff could be as small as 12 pitchers. Roberts continues to reference a 13-man staff for the playoffs.
“If Roki is a part of that in some capacity, then that would be great,” Roberts said.
ALSO
Alex Freeland was given his first start at second base Tuesday after he played his first four major league games at third. … After starting his first two games at third in his return from the injured list, Max Muncy will not start Wednesday, with Freeland a possibility to take his spot for a day. … Ohtani is expected to pitch four innings in his eighth start of the season Wednesday. He also was expected to pitch four innings at Cincinnati last Wednesday but was limited to three-plus because of cramping in his right hip on a hot and humid evening.
UP NEXT
Dodgers (RHP Shohei Ohtani, 0-0, 2.40 ERA) vs. Cardinals (LHP Matthew Liberatore, 6-9, 3.96 ERA), Wednesday, 1:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570-AM