The Dodgers were finally on the verge of getting their rotation whole again, and then Roki Sasaki’s blister changed the picture.
Sasaki was put on the 15-day injured list after the issue developed on the middle finger of his right hand, cutting short his start against the Atlanta Braves at 3.1 innings. The injury now guarantees he’ll miss at least two weeks, but the bigger concern is making sure the healing process doesn’t turn into something worse.
That’s especially important for Sasaki, who said he’s dealt with blisters before and doesn’t want to push too fast this time.
“Yeah, that’s right. Healing can work a bit differently here compared to when I was in Japan, so it’s hard to say right now how long it will take to recover,” Sasaki said in Japanese on Wednesday night.
“We shouldn’t rush it. I’ll need to monitor the situation and my progress while keeping an eye on the schedule.
“There were times in the past when returning too early actually made things worse. Taking those experiences into account, I’ll sit down with the trainers and coaches to discuss the best path forward.”
Dave Roberts said the Dodgers are taking the same cautious approach and still don’t know exactly when the right-hander will be back.
The blister caught Sasaki by surprise, too. He said he didn’t feel anything until he was already in the game at Truist Park, a different experience from what he’s dealt with before. He retired just one of four batters he faced before leaving in the fourth inning.
“When I was facing the first hitter in the fourth inning, I actually didn’t feel anything coming beforehand,” Sasaki said through an interpreter after the Dodgers’ loss. “My skin just ripped off, and after that it was getting worse.”
Before the injury, Sasaki was sitting at 5-5 with a 4.42 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP in 22 starts. His numbers had been trending the right way after the All-Star break, though, and he had allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his six outings since then.
How long he’s out could also shape his role down the line. A move to the bullpen had already been in play if Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tarik Skubal, Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow were all healthy by October.
For now, Roberts said the plan is for Sasaki to keep playing catch while using a protective cover on the blister.
In Other News...
Dodgers Prospect Depth Looks A Lot Better Than Critics Admit
The Dodgers keep getting treated like a system that has been picked clean, mostly because they are always aggressive about moving prospects when a big league upgrade is available. Even so, there is still real talent bubbling under the surface, and names like James Tibbs III, Chase Harlan and Kellon Lindsey are part of why the farm is not nearly as thin as some critics want to make it sound.
Tibbs has already shown the kind of offensive production that gets attention at the lower levels, while Harlan has continued moving forward in his comeback from hip surgery after progressing through the minors. Lindsey brings a different kind of intrigue with elite speed and improving contact numbers, giving the Dodgers a mix of upside, recovery stories and athleticism that suggests the pipeline is still delivering more than just trade currency. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Offense Has Reached A Point They Cant Ignore
The Dodgers have hit a stretch they cannot really brush off, dropping four of their last five games and doing it in the slimmest of margins while the offense has gone cold. They have managed only three runs over their last three games, a run of production that has put even more pressure on a lineup already dealing with the loss of All-Star outfielder Andy Pages, who is expected to miss at least a month.
Alek Thomas was brought up as the immediate replacement, but the conversation around the club is already turning to whether a longer-term jolt is coming before the season ends. Dodgers insider Katie Woo has reported speculation that outfield prospect James Tibbs III could be promoted if the team decides it needs another bat, a sign that the front office may be weighing more than just short-term cover while the offense searches for answers. [Read more 🡒]
Dave Roberts Just Cast Doubt On Shohei Ohtani's Dodgers Return
Shohei Ohtanis long-awaited return to the mound was supposed to be circling the calendar for August 30, but Dave Roberts put a little air in that balloon. Ohtani has been out since July 3 with left knee inflammation and other injuries, and while the Dodgers have kept benefitting from his bat, the pitching side of his game has remained on hold for nearly two months.
Roberts said the comeback date is far from certain because Ohtani still is not fully healthy, which leaves the Dodgers in familiar wait-and-see territory with one of their biggest stars. Even without pitching, Ohtani has kept producing at the plate, hitting .274/.347/.560 with 12 home runs and 30 RBIs in 196 plate appearances since his last start, but the unanswered question now is when the two-way version of him will finally be ready again. [Read more 🡒]