In a whirlwind finish to the Wild Card Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers swept the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday, punching their ticket to the NLDS against the Phillies. And at the center of that clinching victory stood Roki Sasaki, the once-hyped Japanese phenom who threw a flawless ninth inning to seal the deal. It was a moment few could have predicted just weeks ago, after Sasaki's rocky rookie season plagued by injury and inconsistency.
Sasaki arrived in Los Angeles last winter as a can't-miss talent, his 100-mph fastball and devastating splitter drawing comparisons to the best in the game. But shoulder woes sidelined him for months, limiting him to just a handful of minor league rehab starts. By mid-September, doubts swirled about whether he'd even make the postseason roster. Manager Dave Roberts, ever the pragmatist, shifted him to the bullpen upon activation, a role Sasaki embraced despite his starter pedigree. Two scoreless outings in the regular season's final week—both in high-pressure seventh innings—earned him a spot on the Wild Card squad.
Roberts didn't mince words postgame. "I trust him in those moments," the skipper said, nodding to Sasaki's poise under the lights. Indeed, the 23-year-old topped out at 99 mph, fanning two Reds with ease and stranding a runner. It was a stark turnaround from June, when Roberts had all but conceded Sasaki might not pitch again in 2025. However, mechanical tweaks in the minors and a calf tweak that extended his rehab paid off, transforming him from afterthought to asset.
Yet, for all the promise, questions linger about Sasaki's endurance in a deeper playoff run. The Dodgers' bullpen, ranked 21st in ERA during the regular season, desperately needs reliability beyond Tanner Scott's inconsistencies. Roberts now hints at Sasaki as a potential closer, a bold pivot for a pitcher built for longer stints. Moreover, with starters like Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani locked in, Sasaki's relief role could define LA's relief corps.
As the Dodgers gear up for Philadelphia, one can't help but wonder if this late bloom signals a breakout—or just a fleeting spark in the October heat.