Roki Sasaki’s Bullpen Gamble: Desperation Move or Genius Strategy?
The Los Angeles Dodgers just pulled off what might be the most telling move of their season—activating Roki Sasaki from the injured list and throwing him straight into the bullpen. And honestly? It’s about time someone acknowledged the elephant in the room: their relief pitching has been an absolute disaster.
After spending four months nursing a shoulder injury, Sasaki made his return Wednesday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks in what can only be described as a “sink or swim” moment for both player and organization. The young Japanese pitcher delivered a clean seventh inning, striking out two batters in the process. Not bad for someone who’s been watching from the sidelines since May.
The Dodgers’ Bullpen Nightmare
Let’s talk numbers, because they’re uglier than a rainy day at Dodger Stadium. Since September started, the Dodgers‘ starting rotation has been absolutely stellar—posting a 2.28 ERA with a 33% strikeout rate across 114 innings. Meanwhile, their bullpen has been serving up meatballs with a ghastly 6.18 ERA and 11 home runs allowed in just 62 innings of work.
You know things are bad when your starters throw 18 scoreless innings in three games, and you still manage to lose all three. That’s not just disappointing—that’s organizational malpractice. The bullpen has been so unreliable that they’ve been walked off four times in their last seven road games. Four times! At this point, opposing teams probably circle Dodgers games on their calendar as automatic comeback opportunities.
Sasaki’s Rocky Road to Redemption
When we last saw Sasaki in action, his fastball wasn’t fooling anyone, and his command was shakier than a California earthquake. The 23-year-old right-hander managed just eight starts before hitting the injured list, going 1-1 with a 4.72 ERA that screamed “needs more time in development.”
His rehab stint at Triple-A Oklahoma City wasn’t exactly inspiring either—a 6.10 ERA across seven outings doesn’t exactly scream “ready for prime time.” But here’s the thing about desperate times: they call for desperate measures. And make no mistake, these are desperate times for the Dodgers’ bullpen.
A Meeting That Changed Everything
Two weeks ago, Sasaki sat down with Dodgers management for what can only be described as a “come to Jesus” meeting. The message was crystal clear: if you want to pitch in the majors this season, it’s going to be out of the bullpen. No more starter treatment, no more kid gloves—just pure, high-leverage relief work.
And you know what? That conversation might have been exactly what Sasaki needed to hear. Sometimes reality checks work better than coddling, especially when you’re dealing with a player who’s shown flashes of brilliance but hasn’t been able to put it all together consistently.
The Kirby Yates Situation
To make room for Sasaki, the Dodgers placed veteran reliever Kirby Yates back on the injured list—his third IL stint this season. At this point, you have to wonder if the 38-year-old’s $13 million contract was worth it. His 5.23 ERA and declining performance since June suggest otherwise.
Yates’ struggles have been particularly painful to watch. After showing promise early in the season with solid underlying numbers, he’s completely fallen apart since his return from injury. A 5.96 ERA since June? That’s not just bad luck—that’s a pitcher who’s lost his edge.
Why This Move Makes Sense
Here’s the brutal truth: Sasaki as a starter was a failed experiment, at least for now. His stuff plays better in shorter bursts, and the Dodgers need all the help they can get in high-leverage situations. This isn’t about giving up on his starting potential—it’s about maximizing what he can contribute right now.
The bullpen role might actually suit Sasaki better than anyone wants to admit. He can air it out for an inning or two without worrying about pacing himself through multiple trips through the lineup. His electric stuff could be absolutely devastating in short bursts, especially if he can locate his fastball better than he did as a starter.
The Postseason Audition
With just five games left in the regular season, this is essentially a high-stakes audition for Sasaki. The Dodgers are evaluating whether he can handle leverage situations and contribute to their postseason run. It’s a lot of pressure for a young pitcher, but sometimes pressure creates diamonds.
The fact that they’re willing to risk it speaks volumes about both their desperation and their belief in Sasaki’s underlying talent. You don’t activate a guy from a four-month injury layoff unless you think he can make an immediate impact
What This Means Going Forward
If Sasaki can succeed in this role, it solves multiple problems for the Dodgers. They get a reliable arm for their struggling bullpen, and Sasaki gets a chance to rebuild his confidence and value. If it doesn’t work out, well, their bullpen was already a mess anyway.
The real test will come in the postseason, where every pitch matters and there’s no room for error. But given what we’ve seen from the current bullpen corps, rolling the dice on Sasaki might be their best option.
Final Thoughts
This move reeks of desperation, but sometimes desperate moves work. Sasaki has the stuff to be effective—the question is whether he can harness it consistently. The Dodgers are betting that a change of scenery (from rotation to bullpen) and a fresh start can unlock his potential.
Will it work? Your guess is as good as mine. But one thing’s for certain: watching Sasaki try to save the Dodgers’ season from the bullpen is going to be a lot more interesting than watching their current relievers blow leads. And at this point, “interesting” might be exactly what they need.
