Dodgers News: Sasaki “Confirmed” as LA’s Closer for Postseason

LOS ANGELES, CA—Despite the Los Angeles Dodgers going up two games to none in the best-of-five National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, there was a lot of fuss over Dodgers manager Dave Roberts‘s bullpen management in the 9th inning of Game Two on Monday.

The Dodgers’ starting rotation, yet again, was a massive advantage on Monday, with left-handed starter Blake Snell pitching six scoreless innings, only surrendering one hit on the night.

Roberts, smelling blood, deployed utility arm Emmet Sheehan, who tossed two innings, allowing just one run. Heading into the 9th inning, where many fans thought it’d be Sasaki to start the inning, it was veteran right-hander Blake Treinen.

Well, as you would’ve guess, Treinen, who has struggled in the second half of the season, was unable to get a single out and let two runs score, dropping the Dodgers l’ lead to just one run with a runner on second after an RBI double by Nick Castellanos.

Roberts would then go to his lefty specialist Alex Vesia, who would get bailed out by a perfectly executed wheel play by the Dodgers’ infield, and with one out needed and runners at the corners, Dave would then send out Roki Sasaki seeking one more out against the National League Batting Champion Trea Turner.

Sasaki only needed two pitches before getting Turner to ground out to Tommy Edman at second base, but the message to the fans was clear: Sasaki needed to be the closer to start that inning.

Well, during yesterday’s workout, Dave Roberts confirmed that Sasaki would be the primary option for the 9th inning moving forward.

. “He’s definitely the primary option” in the ninth, Roberts said. “There’s a buildup. We have to win a certain number of games, and he’s not going to close every game. It’s just not feasible. You’ve got to use other guys. If it makes sense, he’ll definitely be finishing games.” The balance matters because “this is something he’s never done and you’re expecting to go a few more weeks, so all that stuff has to play in.”

The Dodgers have significantly benefited from the number of off days sprinkled throughout their October postseason run, as it has allowed them not only to get their starters rest but also their key arms in the bullpen.

Sasaki is likely going to be available in Game Three for the Dodgers, along with Emmet Sheehan and Clayton Kershaw, who has yet to appear in a postseason game from the bullpen.

While the Dodgers want to manage Sasaki’s innings as they believe that they’ll be playing throughout October, what we know now is that if a save situation arises, Sasaki will be the one to call from the ‘pen.

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