The Dodgers might be sitting comfortably atop the NL West with a 67–49 record, but the standings only tell part of the story. Beneath the surface, their pitching staff has been gasping for air. It’s a unit that currently ranks 18th in MLB with a 4.13 ERA, far from the dominance you’d expect from a championship contender. And injuries have played a starring role in that struggle.
But the tides may finally be turning. Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell have already returned to the mound, injecting life back into the staff. Now, all eyes shift to the next big piece: Roki Sasaki. Well, the Japanese phenom’s return has been one of the most highly anticipated storylines of the season because early whispers of a potential season-ending injury had fans bracing for the worst.
Instead, Sasaki has been steadily ramping up, recently throwing in simulated games. And just as Dodger fans were wondering when they might see him again, the latest update dropped. It’s the kind of news that could turn relief into outright excitement at Chavez Ravine.
Sasaki threw a three-inning simulated game before Friday’s matchup against the Blue Jays, tossing 46 pitches to outfielder Alex Call and some minor leaguers. Reportedly, his fastball sat at 96–97 mph, with a few at 95 mph. Now, as per the latest update from the manager Dave Roberts, he will start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday, aiming for three innings.
“Dodgers’ Dave Roberts says Roki Sasaki will start a rehab assignment with OKC on Thursday. Target will be 3 IP,” MLB insider Bill Plunkett posted on X
#Dodgers Dave Roberts says Roki Sasaki will start a rehab assignment with OKC on Thursday Target will be 3 IP
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) August 9, 2025
It’s a breath of fresh air for fans who were initially worried Sasaki’s season might be over. Sidelined since mid-May with a shoulder injury, the 22-year-old is finally shaking off the doubts and now seems poised for a big-league comeback.
With Sasaki’s return now on the horizon, and Glasnow and Snell already in the mix, it’s starting to look like the Dodgers’ trade deadline strategy might have paid off. The front office stayed mostly quiet at the deadline. Their only external acquisition was reliever Brock Stewart. At the time, it seemed risky, especially with the pitching staff so banged up. But the thinking was clear: their biggest reinforcements were already in-house.
So, Sasaki’s comeback couldn’t be better timed, though there’s still some concern about his fastball losing a bit of its usual zip.
Concerns around Sasaki remain, but the Dodgers have reasons to be hopeful
If you remember, Sasaki had a blockbuster debut in Japan when he looked every bit the phenom the Dodgers were hoping for. All four of his first pitches cracked 100 mph, and in that first inning against the Cubs on March 19, he hit 99 mph or higher eight times!
But nearly two months later, the picture changed. Since returning from Japan, Sasaki couldn’t sniff triple digits again. Over the next seven uneven starts, his four-seamer averaged just 96 mph, with occasional dips to 92–93 mph. And the drop in velocity coincided with a shaky 4.72 ERA and an alarming 22 walks against only 24 strikeouts! So, the concerns around him still remain. But the Dodgers have reasons to believe better days are ahead.
If the latest rumors are true, Sasaki has added a two-seam fastball to his mix of four-seamer, splitter, and slider. The new pitch could help him generate more ground balls and perhaps unlock some of that missing velocity.
For the Dodgers, Sasaki’s return could be more than just another arm returning to the rotation. If he can pair sharper command with his retooled repertoire, he might stabilize the staff down the stretch. He has enough to complement Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell, that’s for sure!
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