{"id":102634,"date":"2025-10-04T08:34:21","date_gmt":"2025-10-04T08:34:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=102634"},"modified":"2025-10-04T08:35:06","modified_gmt":"2025-10-04T08:35:06","slug":"dodgers-dave-roberts-leaves-door-open-for-roki-sasaki-nlds-save-opportunities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=102634","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\udd25 DODGERS STRATEGY TWIST: Dave Roberts hints at surprise NLDS bullpen role for Roki Sasaki \u2014 could the Japanese phenom close out October games for L.A.?..ll"},"content":{"rendered":"<article><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.clutchpoints.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Los-Angeles-Dodgers-starting-pitcher-Roki-Sasaki-3.jpg?w=1200\" alt=\"Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.\" \/>After watching Roki Sasaki absolutely dominate in his playoff debut against the Cincinnati Reds, earning two Ks on 11 pitches for a 1-2-3 inning, Los Angeles Dodgers fans the world over have borderline demanded Dave Roberts officially give him the role, sending Tanner Scott to the bench for good in favor of the rookie phenom.Fortunately, it would appear Roberts has heard those calls and acknowledged them, telling reporters during his media availability session that he would be comfortable giving Sasaki the ball in high-leverage situations.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI would. I would,\u201d Roberts declared. \u201cI think that the way he&#8217;s handled himself up to this point, there&#8217;s been no signs for me, which I had assumed that the moment would be too big. And I have full confidence in whatever leverage role we put him in.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Asked if Sasaki&#8217;s recent elevation has been a credit to his bullpen as a whole, Roberts said yes, noting that he believes the rookie ex-starter could galvanize the troops and get everyone throwing their best stuff.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think so. I think I hope so. I hope it&#8217;s something that energizes the guys in the pen, motivates them, because, you know, everyone wants innings and opportunities,\u201d Roberts noted. \u201cAnd so hopefully with what Roki\u2019s done, motivates guys to go after guys and pitch well. And so they can earn those opportunities as well.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>When the Dodgers won the \u201cRoki Sasaki sweepstakes\u201d before the 2025 MLB season, it looked like he was going to be a top-tier starting quarterback who could go right away and play alongside Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto for years to come. Instead, he struggled early, got injured, and looked like he wouldn&#8217;t play another game in 2025, until some rehab luck, a great stretch in OKC, and the idea to use him as a high velocity reliever became simply too good to pass up for Roberts and company. With the NLDS rapidly approaching, expect to see Sasaki pitch when it counts and Roberts&#8217; trust to grow with each successful inning.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Dodgers Postseason: Dave Roberts Talks Will Smith\u2019s Role, Rotation Plans &amp; Roki Closing Games\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/14p4xSFmnpo?feature=oembed\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After an incredible showing in the Wild Card Round, Dave Roberts is open to Roki Sasaki closing games in the NLDS.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":102635,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[1369,39,44,583],"class_list":["post-102634","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb","tag-dave-roberts","tag-los-angeles-dodgers","tag-mlb","tag-roki-sasaki"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - 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