Dodgers' Sasaki to go on IL after exiting start with blister
ATLANTA -- A blister emerged on Roki Sasaki's right middle finger in Wednesday's fourth inning, impacting the command of his slider and ultimately forcing his exit after just 66 pitches. The Los Angeles Dodgers' young starting pitcher will land on the injured list because of it.
"I actually didn't feel anything coming beforehand," Sasaki said through an interpreter after the Dodgers' 6-5 walk-off loss to the Atlanta Braves from Truist Park. "My skin just ripped off, and after that it kinda got worse."
Sasaki, who previously dealt with blisters in Japan, said he felt a tear in his finger while facing Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies to begin the bottom of the fourth. But a layer of skin remained, allowing him to pitch through it. Three batters later, the skin had torn completely, prompting his exit.
The Dodgers are unsure how long the healing process will take, but Sasaki can still play catch with his finger bandaged to keep his arm active. Eric Lauer will temporarily take his spot in the rotation. The longer Sasaki is out, the more likely it is that he will return to the bullpen, rather than the rotation, to prepare for his likely role in the playoffs.
With Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow back off the IL, Shohei Ohtani potentially returning to pitch as early as Sunday, and Tarik Skubal and Yoshinobu Yamamoto locks in the rotation, Sasaki is highly unlikely to take down starts in October.
The injury, though, halts an encouraging stretch by the 24-year-old right-hander, who went into Wednesday's game with a 2.31 ERA in six starts since the All-Star break.
"For it to kind of come out of nowhere was a surprise to all of us," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Sasaki's blister. "He was on a good run. So now, unfortunately, it's going to be a minimum two weeks."
