The Los Angeles Dodgers wasted no time advancing in the 2025 playoffs, sweeping the Cincinnati Reds in the Wild Card Series. And right in the thick of it was Roki Sasaki, the young Japanese phenom who closed out the clincher with a flawless ninth inning on Wednesday. Striking out two, he silenced any doubts about his readiness for the big stage. It's a far cry from where things stood just weeks ago, when Sasaki was still nursing a lingering shoulder injury that sidelined him for months.
Dave Roberts, the Dodgers' steady-handed manager, didn't mince words after the win. He praised Sasaki's poise, saying the 23-year-old has earned his spot in high-leverage situations. "The way he threw, the big games he's pitched in before—that's something I can trust," Roberts noted, referencing Sasaki's scoreless relief outings during the regular season's final week. Indeed, Sasaki's transition from starter to bullpen arm came late, after rehab stints in the minors where his velocity topped 100 mph but command wavered. Yet, in just two major league appearances before the postseason, he delivered seven straight outs without a blemish.
However, the road here wasn't smooth. Sasaki's rookie year began with hype—signing as a top international free agent—but quickly derailed by that shoulder issue, limiting him to a handful of starts. Roberts had been cautious, even hinting earlier in the summer that Sasaki might not return until next season. But a strong rehab outing in September changed the calculus, pushing him onto the playoff roster over other contenders. Now, with the National League Division Series against the Phillies looming, Sasaki's splitter and heat could prove pivotal in a Dodgers squad already stacked with stars like Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani.
Still, questions linger about his stamina in extended playoff runs. Roberts seems optimistic, but the real test comes soon enough. One wonders how deep this unexpected revival will take the Dodgers' championship defense.