The Los Angeles Dodgers are getting some good news and some bad news on two of their three Japanese pitchers: Roki Sasaki is out indefinitely, while Shohei Ohtani is most definitely back on the hill.
As manager Dave Roberts revealed Sunday, the highly touted rookie, Sasaki, may not return from his shoulder injury this season. At this point, Roberts told reporters, ‘we have to plan on life without him as far as this year.’
Fortunately, scans have not revealed any new structural damage, but that’s not much consolation for a 23-year-old phenom who has struggled since arriving from Japan. The question is: Can Sasaki’s lackluster numbers (4.72 ERA) be blamed on the shoulder issue that has sidelined him since May 9?
Sasaki’s injury is the latest shoulder problem for a staff that has already lost two pitchers to joint issues. Both Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell remain on the 60-day injured list, although the latter had a 20-pitch bullpen session last week.
Furthermore, the once-promising Bobby Miller has been demoted to the minors amid his struggles and veteran ace Clayton Kershaw remains on the 60-day injured list with a toe problem, although he has been pitching with Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets.
The Dodgers do remain in first place in the National League West at 43-29 entering Monday thanks to MLB’s best offense and second-year hurler Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who boasts an impressive 2.64 ERA.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki, of Japan, throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks
Shohei Ohtani grins from the dugout on Friday. He’ll make his return to the mound on Monday
Best of all, Yamamoto is now being joined in the Dodgers’ rotation by Ohtani, a former Cy Young candidate in the American League.
After winning a World Series title and an MVP in his first season with the team, two-way sensation will finally make his first start on the mound signing his 10-year, $700 million deal with LA before the 2024 campaign.
Ohtani hasn’t pitched since 2023, when he underwent his second Tommy John surgery to repair his right elbow during his days with the Angels. Now the 30-year-old will face a San Diego Padres lineup that includes All-Star sluggers Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado.
Baseball’s first true two-way player since Babe Ruth, Ohtani’s elbow issues haven’t hurt him at the plate, where he’s averaged 44.5 home runs per season over the past four years.
But the heavily deferred contract he received from the Dodgers suggests the team does expect him to fulfil his potential as both a hitter and a pitcher. And while only a handful of hurlers have enjoyed success after a second Tommy John Surgery (Texas’ Nathan Eovaldi, for instance), Ohtani’s return might be more of a necessity than a luxury.
Thanks to a strong bullpen, the Dodgers have a respectable team earned-run average of 3.83, but the real reason they sit atop the NL West standings is an offense that has scored an MLB-best 399 runs entering Monday.
Ohtani was among the best pitchers in baseball with the Angeles in 2021, 2022 and 2023, maintaining an ERA below 3.20 and once finishing fourth in the Cy Young voting.
‘There’s been a lot of anticipation,’ Roberts said. ‘It’s good for our team. Our guys are excited about this potential. And obviously, most important, I´m excited for Shohei.’