The Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t expect Roki Sasaki to play a significant role in the postseason. However, one simple change was all it took for Sasaki to prove what he’s truly made of. Now, he’s the most anticipated arm out of the bullpen.

“I genuinely thought we wouldn’t see Roki Sasaki return in 2025… I figured they’d just shut him down and try again in 2026. He’s seriously the reliever I trust the most right now and he should be the closer moving forward. He’s looked flat out untouchable since returning,” Dodgers beat writer Blake Harris wrote.

It took a lot of courage for Sasaki to make the switch so late in the season, but he knew it was his last resort. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised him for that.

“The first part of it was him giving himself the opportunity to agree to go to the ‘pen. And then the next part is, he’s got to perform,” Roberts said. “Tonight, he performed. He was really good. And let’s see it again on Sunday. And then it kind of puts the onus on the organization to make a decision. In the postseason, there’s no roles. They’re all leverage.”

Sasaki earned saves in the first two games of the NLDS. In Game 2, he was brought in to face just one batter in the ninth inning. Tuesday was an off day for the Dodgers, and Roberts has now essentially named Sasaki the closer moving forward.

“Roki Sasaki is now the primary option to pitch in the 9th inning, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says,” USA Today’s Bob Nightengale posted.

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This move felt inevitable—it was only a matter of when. Everything is happening fast for Sasaki. In just two weeks, he’s gone from not making the roster to moving into the bullpen, becoming a key reliever, and now taking over as the closer.

Sasaki is on a tear right now and looks nearly untouchable. The rookie has come out of nowhere and is poised to play a vital role if the Dodgers hope to go back-to-back.