The Los Angeles Dodgers have been without starting pitcher Roki Sasaki since the middle of April.
He started a rehab assignment on Aug. 14 with the Oklahoma City Comets, but MLB insider Bob Nightengale pointed out a concerning update with Sasaki’s pitching.
“The Dodgers no longer can count on rookie Roki Sasaki helping them down the stretch,” wrote Nightengale. “His velocity is nowhere near the 102 mph he threw in Japan. He has thrown 59 fastballs through his two rehab starts, and has generated only one swing-and-miss.”
Los Angeles has plenty of depth for starting pitching with Shohei Ohtani’s return to the rotation. However, that doesn’t diminish the concerns for Sasaki.
The 23-year-old pitcher’s loss of velocity and lack of generating swings and misses are clear signs something is still wrong with his throwing shoulder. Pitchers don’t lose that much velocity without there still being an issue.
Manny Randhawa of MLB.com reported on Wednesday that Sasaki’s fastball got up to 96 MPH in his latest rehab start, up from 93 from his first one. While that is certainly encouraging, the Dodgers know more work needs to be done with Sasaki.
If the righty can ramp it up a little more in his next rehab start, the Dodgers’ worries can start to lessen. The ability to generate strikeouts will likely return as he settles in and feels more confident. However, the organization should remain concerned if Sasaki’s fastball velocity continues to sit around 96 mph.
For now, the Dodgers are trying to remain hopeful Sasaki can return and make an impact in their postseason run. However, that idea may quickly change.
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