Roki Sasaki shut the door on the Cincinnati Reds in Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series to send the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Division Series for a matchup against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The right-hander entered in the ninth inning with the Dodgers holding an 8-4 lead and promptly retired the side on just 11 pitches. He recorded two strikeouts and touched a season-best 101.4 mph on his fastball.
Sasaki was like a breath of fresh air to a Dodgers bullpen that struggled in the eighth inning for a second consecutive night.
It was only the 21-year-old’s third relief appearance at the Major League level but he will continue pitching in big spots during the postseason.
“I trust him, and he’s going to be pitching in leverage,” manager Dave Roberts said after the game. “So the more you pitch guys and play guys, you learn more.
“So, like I said about Yamamoto, I don’t think the moment’s going to be too big for Roki.”
Sasaki returned to the Dodgers at the end of September and threw two scoreless innings out of the bullpen, flashing improved velocity and command.
Sasaki missed most of his rookie season due to a right shoulder impingement but used the time off to gain strength and work on his mechanics.
Although his long-term outlook is contributing as a starter, Sasaki was given a chance to be part of the Dodgers postseason bullpen due to the group’s inconsistencies this season.
Emmet Sheehan, who retired just one of five batters on Wednesday, also made the Wild Card Series roster as a reliever, and Clayton Kershaw could take on a similar role in the NLDS as well.
Roki Sasaki looks like ‘different’ pitcher
After rejoining the Dodgers last month, it quickly became evident that Sasaki was much improved as a pitcher.
“He looks like a different person,” Roberts said at the time. “It’s an inning or two, I think there’s just a lot more confidence, a lot more conviction, and obviously the stuff is up from where it was earlier this year. And he’s learned a lot from this season.
“Some of the struggles, the not being able to participate, to being in Triple-A, the rehab assignment, and to come back. He just wants to help. I’m really, really proud of his growth and what he’s done.”
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