PHILADELPHIA — Dave Roberts has given the ball to Roki Sasaki to protect a lead in the ninth inning of the Dodgers’ past two games – Game 2 of their Wild Card Series and Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night. Against the Phillies, it was a save situation.
The usage says closer – but Roberts won’t.
“I just don’t want to be pigeon-holed into the ninth because with the way this (Phillies) lineup is constructed, there could be different ways where the eighth (inning) could present itself where he could be the best option,” the Dodgers manager said. “But I do consider him one of our top highest-leverage relievers, for sure.”
Since franchise saves leader Kenley Jansen left following the 2021 season, the Dodgers have been reluctant to name any reliever their closer – even when Evan Phillips registered 24 saves in 2023 – because they value the flexibility that comes with fluid roles.
With no history as a reliever before this, Sasaki also could have some workload restrictions that would make him unavailable to close on a nightly basis. But the Dodgers are confident he can pitch frequently during the NLDS, in particular, because of the extra day off between Games 1 and 2.
“That was something we did intentionally towards the end of this season. We got him a two-out-of-three. And we’ve kind of checked that box,” Roberts said. “So, I feel good, if needed we could use him tomorrow night as well.”
That would be Sasaki’s third appearance in seven days – a long way from the once-a-week schedule he had as a starter. But Sasaki said his training as a starter will help him pitch more often.
“In a playoff format, I think I’m able to do that because I do have the stamina as a starting pitcher,” he said through his interpreter. “But over the course of a longer season, I don’t think it’s a sustainable way for me to prepare to pitch each postseason game as a reliever.”
The difference between Sasaki as a starter and a reliever has been dramatic, as teammate Blake Snell has noticed.
“I like how much he’s confident when he comes out of the ’pen to close games,” said Snell, who will start Game 2 on Monday. “He’s throwing strikes. He’s attacking. He’s fearless. It’s a different Roki. The starter Roki was more cautious and a little nervous, from what I could see. And he has such good stuff, but he was just nervous of what the hitter could do.
“Now he’s going out there, he’s more confident in what he can do and that’s so much fun to watch. And the team’s really behind him and pushing and he’s coming out just extremely confident, and it’s so much fun to watch him pitch that way.”
BADER INJURY
Phillies center fielder Harrison Bader left Game 1 with what was originally called a hamstring strain but Phillies manager Rob Thomson said it was more of a groin muscle injury. Bader underwent an MRI on Sunday which Thomson said revealed “no major tear or strain.”
Bader expressed confidence following the game on Saturday that he would be available for Game 2 but Thomson said that decision won’t be made until pregame.
“We’ll know more tomorrow,” Thomson said Sunday. “But I think after the game they stretched him out. They got him moving around a little bit, and I think he felt a lot better after that. We’ll know whether he’s available to start or at least to pinch-hit. We’ll know more tomorrow.”
If Bader cannot start in center field, Thomson indicated Brandon Marsh would move over from left field. Max Kepler is also an option.
SMITH DISH
Will Smith got his first game action since Sept. 9 in Game 1 of the NLDS, entering as a pinch-hitter in the fifth inning and staying in to catch the rest of the game. Roberts said he won’t decide until Monday whether Smith might start Game 2.
“He hasn’t had the normal buildup as far as getting his legs back and catching and all that kind of stuff that he normally would, coming back from an injury,” Roberts said of Smith, who suffered a hairline fracture in his right hand.
Roberts said the Game 1 arrangement – Ben Rortvedt started and caught the first four innings before leaving for Smith when his spot in the lineup came up for a second time – would “absolutely” be an option going forward.
“You layer in the intensity of the postseason, the games are a little bit longer, all that,” Roberts said. “So to have him catch four innings and then to potentially run that same playbook, certainly there’s value to that.
“But if he says that he feels great, there’s no remnants of Game 1, it might be hard for me not to kind of pencil him in.”
INSIDE INFO
Former Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler is on the Phillies’ roster for the NLDS, available to pitch out of the bullpen. But Buehler’s connection with the Dodgers provides other value, Thomson indicated.
“I think he’s given some information to our pitching coaches,” Thomson said. “He’s a winner. He has that aura about him. We’re going to use him out of the ’pen in this series. Whether it’s for length or for one inning, that’s to be seen. Yeah, he’s a great teammate. He’s in the middle of everything in that clubhouse. And he’s a good guy to have around. And he’s got a lot of talent.”
After getting the final out of the 2024 World Series for the Dodgers, Buehler signed as a free agent with the Boston Red Sox. He struggled there, going 7-7 with a 5.45 ERA. The Sox released him in August and Buehler signed with the Phillies. He pitched well for them, primarily out of the bullpen, going 3-0 with an 0.66 ERA over 13⅔ innings.
UP NEXT
Game 2: Dodgers (LHP Blake Snell, 5-4, 2.35 ERA) at Phillies (LHP Jesus Luzardo, 15-7, 3.92 ERA), Monday, 3:08 p.m. PT, TBS, HBO Max, 570 AM