Star Rookie Roki Sasaki’s Sudden Injury Sends Shockwaves Through Dodgers’ Season Outlook

So here we are again — the Dodgers’ pitching staff takes a hit, this time with rookie right-hander Roki Sasaki landing on the injured list Tuesday due to right shoulder impingement. Roki, who’s been turning heads since his arrival from Japan earlier this year, reported soreness following a recent start where he stretched to pitch on five days’ rest for the very first time in the majors. The outing, which saw him last just four innings while surrendering five runs on 61 pitches in Arizona, clearly took a toll.

Manager Dave Roberts wasn’t sugarcoating it when he mentioned they’re still trying to distinguish between what’s a typical “this is how it feels” soreness and when things cross into concerning territory. It’s a delicate balance — they want Sasaki firing on all cylinders but without pushing him too hard too soon.

Since joining the Dodgers from the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball, this 23-year-old phenom has shown flashes of brilliance — a 1-1 record, a 4.72 ERA, and a respectable 24 strikeouts over 34 1/3 innings while holding opponents to a .225 batting average. Yet, it’s been a roller coaster. His fastball, once regularly touching triple digits back in Japan, has dipped into the mid-90s since his impressive big-league debut against the Cubs in Tokyo, where 99 mph fastballs were the norm rather than the exception.

Roberts admitted the team is in ongoing talks to assess Roki’s overall condition and performance, trying to figure out how all the pieces fit together — physically, mentally, and skill-wise. Anyone watching can’t help but feel for the young pitcher — his struggles with control, especially highlighted during his Dodger Stadium debut where he was pulled early and captured with teary eyes on Japanese TV, show just how much this means to him.

To add to the Dodgers’ pitching woes — with Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow also sidelined — the timing couldn’t be worse. Clayton Kershaw, thankfully, is penciled in to make his season debut this weekend after his own stint on the injured list. Meanwhile, J.P. Feyereisen was called up to help fill the void, embarking on his second tour of duty for the Dodgers this season.

It’s a rocky road ahead, but with a mix of talent, grit, and some smart management, this team will be fighting through it all.

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LOS ANGELES — Touted Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Roki Sasaki landed on the injured list Tuesday with right shoulder impingement.

He told the team his arm was sore after his last start in which he pitched on five days rest for the first time in the majors. Sasaki threw four innings and gave up five runs on 61 pitches Friday at Arizona.

“Physically he was a little bit sore afterwards and that’s something that we’re still trying to figure out, what’s normal and what’s not normal,” manager Dave Roberts said before the team announced Sasaki was sidelined. “We want to make sure that he’s in a good spot physically.”

The right-hander is 1-1 with a 4.72 ERA in eight starts. He has 24 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings while holding opposing hitters to a .225 average. Sasaki was scheduled to make his next start Thursday against the Athletics.

The 23-year-old from Japan joined the Dodgers in January after spending the last four years with the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Nippon Professional Baseball League.

Sasaki was known for throwing 100 mph in Japan and in his major league debut against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo in March he repeatedly reached 99 mph in the first inning.

But he’s struggled to find that same zip on his fastball since, with his velocity dipping to the mid-90s.

“We’re still trying to have conversations to see where he’s at,” Roberts said. “At the end of the day we want to make sure that he is performing up to his capabilities and up to our capabilities and our expectations.

“There’s a lot of kind of things that we’re trying to suss out right now with Roki.”

Sasaki was pulled from his Dodger Stadium debut in the second inning because of control issues. His sad face and teary eyes were shown on a Japanese TV feed.

His injury is the latest blow to the Dodgers’ rotation. Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are on the injured list, although Clayton Kershaw is scheduled to make his season debut Saturday after starting the season on the IL.

Right-hander J.P. Feyereisen was recalled for his second stint with the Dodgers this season.