CINCINNATI — Now what?
Roki Sasaki threw 48 pitches in four simulated innings to Dodgers hitters on Wednesday afternoon, testing the blister on his right hand that landed him on the injured list. He gave up a home run to Eliezer Alfonzo but otherwise “was good,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
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Sasaki threw with Dermabond on his injured finger. A surgical adhesive used to close cuts and incisions, pitchers are allowed to use it in games if their team gets permission from MLB in advance.
“He came out of it well,” Roberts said. “So we have to huddle up here and figure out what’s his role. What does it look like as we sit here on the 17th or 18th of September, whatever? So the number one most important thing is that he came out of that session well, and then now we got to figure out how to plug him in. He’s going to be important, but I just don’t know right now what role.”
Sasaki seemed destined for a bullpen role again this postseason, a role he assumed successfully last year. But the Dodgers have reason to hesitate on turning Sasaki into a reliever with Blake Snell leaving his start after just one inning on Wednesday night and Tyler Glasnow’s status.
Glasnow flew back to Los Angeles after his start in Miami. It was the second consecutive start in which Glasnow was not sharp and this time he could be seen in the dugout stretching out his back. But after the game, he said his back felt fine and Roberts said Glasnow threw a “normal” bullpen session in L.A. on Wednesday and is scheduled to make his next start on Friday night.
Sasaki is penciled in now to start during the series against the San Diego Padres in Los Angeles next week and remain a starter at least for now.
“One can argue it’s best to take down a couple starts, keep him built up, because if something does happen, he’s built up,” Roberts said. “The other side is you can assimilate him into the ’pen and get comfortable in that role – if that is the role.
“But again, I don’t want to speak out of turn and say that’s done, because it’s not.”
NO SHO
The Dodgers are about to complete their first road trip in three seasons without Shohei Ohtani. Yoshinobu Yamamoto might have missed Ohtani more than any other of his teammates.
“It’s been a weird feeling because I talk to him all the time in the clubhouse,” Yamamoto joked through his interpreter when asked about Ohtani’s absence. “All I have is Roki, but he doesn’t really talk to me.”
Back in Los Angeles, Ohtani has been receiving treatment for his knee and bicep injuries. According to Roberts, Ohtani began swinging a bat, hitting off a tee this week.
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“There’s going to be a consistent build-up,” Roberts said. “Don’t know when the time of return to play is, but today was positive, and hopefully we can just keep building towards that.”
Ohtani will be eligible to be activated from the IL next Wednesday. Whether he is ready to play that day or shortly after, Roberts said the expectation is that Ohtani will return in time to play before the regular season ends on Sept. 27.
“I do,” Roberts said. “Whether it happens or not is to be determined. But I do expect him to be back to play in some regular-season games. Don’t know how many of them.”
COMING/GOING
Right-hander Edwin Diaz made his fifth rehab appearance with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday, pitching a scoreless inning to close out the Comets’ playoff berth-clinching victory. Diaz did allow a double to a fellow big-leaguer on rehab, Miguel Andujar.
Meanwhile, Edgardo Henriquez returned to Los Angeles and underwent an MRI, which confirmed the diagnosis of a “low-grade back strain,” Roberts said. He won’t be eligible to pitch again in the regular season but Roberts said the Dodgers are “hopeful” he could come back for the postseason.
Left-hander Kris Bubic was activated from the 60-day IL before Wednesday’s game and right-hander Paul Gervase was returned to OKC. In order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Bubic, Triple-A outfielder Ryan Ward was designated for assignment.
Right-hander Landon Knack will be added to the active roster before Thursday’s game and Bobby Miller will be returned to OKC.
ALSO
Outfield prospect Charles Davalan (the 41st pick in last year’s draft) was named MVP of the Class-A Midwest League and Great Lakes manager Jair Fernandez was named the league’s Manager of the Year. Davalan hit .292 with 24 home runs and a .937 OPS. He is scheduled to play in the Arizona Fall League, where he is expected to start testing out a possible conversion to second base.
UP NEXT
Dodgers (LHP Justin Wrobleski, 11-5, 3.78 ERA) at Reds (RHP Brady Singer, 6-14, 5.38 ERA), Thursday, 9:40 a.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM
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