Dave Roberts Sends Clear Message on Dodgers’ Closer Situation Ahead of NLDS Game 3

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made it clear ahead of Game 3 that rookie phenom Roki Sasaki has earned his trust and will be the “primary option” to close games for the Dodgers going forward.  

As Dodger Nation reported, “He’s definitely the primary option,” Roberts said. “I think that there’s a build up, there’s also a component that we have to win [nine] more games and he’s not going to close every game. It’s not feasible. To the question, if it makes sense, [Sasaki] will be finishing games.”

After back-to-back saves in Games 1 and 2 of the NLDS, the 23-year-old from Japan has officially become the Dodgers’ most trusted arm out of the bullpen.  

Dodgers Finally Find Their Closer in Roki Sasaki

Sasaki has quickly transformed from a project into one of the Dodgers’ most valuable postseason weapons. 

At one point this season, it didn’t even look like Sasaki would pitch again as he was out with a shoulder injury for most of the season. 

Prior to his first start back on September 24th, the rookie had not pitched since early May. 

Early in the season, he struggled in his first eight Major League starts, posting a 4.72 ERA and striking out only 24 batters in 35.1 innings, with concerns growing over his declining 100+ mph fastball velocity. 

Since returning from injury, Sasaki has been nearly untouchable. He hasn’t allowed a run in five appearances, striking out seven of the 15 batters he’s faced while giving up just two hits. 

But it’s not just the numbers, it’s the way he’s doing it. Sasaki’s fastball is regularly touching triple digits again and his filthy splitter is making hitters look silly.  

The 23-year-old is doing all of this while pitching in high-leverage situations, and his poise under pressure has turned him into the Dodgers’ most trusted weapon. 

Dodgers Familiar With Using Starters to Close Out Games

This isn’t the first time the Dodgers have leaned on their starting pitchers to get final outs in October. 

Roberts used Julio Urías for a lot of the 2020 playoffs out of the bullpen, and he even closed out the 2020 World Series. Urías pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings in Game 6 of the World Series to earn the save and the championship. 

Last year’s world series title was very similar. While Walker Buehler was mostly a starter in the 2024 playoffs, he came in to shut down the Yankees in the ninth inning of Game 5 to close out the title.

With the Dodgers recent bullpen struggles, on top of Sasaki, Roberts has already used Tyler Glasnow and Emmet Sheehan out of the bullpen in this NLDS series against the Phillies. 

And if the series tightens up, the Dodgers have one more ace in their back pocket: Clayton Kershaw. 

The future Hall of Famer has come out of the bullpen before in October, and Roberts hasn’t ruled out the possibility of using him in high-leverage spots again.

The Dodgers lead 2-0 in the NLDS and look to close out the Phillies tonight at home.

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