With the Los Angeles Dodgers looking to protect a one-run lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 2 of the National League Division Series, manager Dave Roberts again relied on Roki Sasaki to record the final out.
The 23-year-old entered after Blake Treinen failed to retire any of his three batters faced, leading to the Phillies scoring two runs and threatening for more in the ninth inning.
Alex Vesia was able to record the first two outs after that, but Sasaki still inherited a difficult situation — runners at the corners and 2025 NL batting champion Trea Turner stepping up to the plate.
Sasaki ultimately won the battle as he got Turner to ground out after Freddie Freeman made a difficult scoop on a low throw from Tommy Edman.
Roberts said after the Dodgers’ win that he was initially reluctant to use Sasaki for the second time in three days. Monday marked only the second time in Sasaki’s young career he’s done so.
“I feel like this time around, I did get enough warm-up pitches to be able to make sure that I can execute,” Sasaki said through interpreter Will Ireton when asked if he had enough time to warm up in the bullpen. “So I actually felt OK.”
Sasaki has thrown a total of 5.1 scoreless innings across four appearances this postseason, providing a much-needed spark to the Dodgers bullpen.
“The starting pitching is doing an amazing job results-wise. And all I’m trying to do is hold the lead or finish a game,” Sasaki said after Game 2.
Sasaki made MLB history as the first pitcher to record the first two saves of his career in the postseason. Then with his performance in Game 4, he became the first pitcher to ever pitch perfect eighth, ninth and 10th innings of a series-clinching win.
Can Roki Sasaki pitch back-to-back days?
As the Dodgers have attempted to ease Sasaki into a new role, it’s amounted to not yet pitching on consecutive days.
“I actually do feel pretty good about being able to throw back-to-back games,” Sasaki said. “On my off day, I threw with pretty good intensity and felt pretty good.”
With an off day in the schedule before the NLDS shifted to Dodger Stadium, Sasaki presumably was available to pitch in Game 3 but a scenario never came to fruition in the Dodgers’ loss. But that also would have amounted to three appearances over a five-day span, which the Dodgers often have avoided with most of their traditional relievers.
Sasaki received two days of rest before throwing three innings in Game 4, and now will have gone at least three days before his first NLCS appearance.
The NLCS schedule doesn’t include as much flexibility as the Dodgers enjoyed the round prior, which could become a factor in managing Sasaki’s usage.
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