Los Angeles, California — The Dodgers will be without rookie sensation Roki Sasaki for at least the next 15 days after placing him on the injured list due to a shoulder impingement. To fill the gap on the roster, the team has recalled reliever J.P. Feyereisen from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Manager Dave Roberts revealed that Sasaki experienced discomfort in his arm following his last start against the Diamondbacks, where he struggled significantly, allowing five runs on five hits and two walks over just four innings. The young pitcher did not register a single strikeout, a stark contrast to his previous performance in Japan, and induced only four swings and misses. With this outing affecting his season statistics, Sasaki’s earned run average now stands at 4.72 after eight appearances in the major leagues.
Despite his rocky start, Sasaki remains a highly regarded talent. He excelled in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) with an impressive 2.10 ERA and a strikeout rate nearing 33% during his four seasons. However, the transition to the big leagues has not been smooth, as he ranks near the bottom among pitchers who have thrown at least 30 innings in strikeout and walk rates.
In Japan, concerns about Sasaki’s injury history were a point of consideration. He has never surpassed 130 innings in a season, and last year he managed only 111 frames over 18 starts. Previous injuries, including an oblique tear and recent reports of shoulder fatigue, have raised questions about his durability. The Dodgers have not provided any timeline for his recovery.
As the team adapts to Sasaki’s absence, Clayton Kershaw is poised to return to the starting rotation on Saturday. This reinforces the Dodgers’ depth, as Kershaw will join Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, and Landon Knack. Sasaki was initially slated to pitch on Thursday, but the team may adjust their plans, potentially utilizing May, who is available on four days’ rest due to an off day earlier in the week.
With the challenge of maintaining their competitive edge, the Dodgers are hopeful that Kershaw’s return will bolster their pitching lineup as they navigate this stretch of the season.