Roki Sasaki’s comeback attempt from a pinched right shoulder has hit a major obstacle after his recent outing with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers on August 22. The promising right-hander was unable to finish three innings, raising concerns about his readiness to rejoin the Los Angeles Dodgers’ MLB rotation as they fight for playoff positioning.

Setback in Triple-A Start Undermines Recovery Progress

Following an absence of nearly three months, Sasaki’s return to game action was meant to mark a step back toward full competition. Instead, his performance against the Albuquerque Isotopes exposed struggles with control and command. He surrendered six hits, issued a walk, and allowed three runs, failing to record a strikeout across six outs. Despite his slider reaching speeds of 95.7 mph, the young pitcher needed 41 pitches to get through just two innings, indicating lingering rust and difficulty finding his rhythm.

Dodgers Adjust Expectations While Sasaki Aims to Regain Form

Originally, the Dodgers envisioned Sasaki pitching up to five innings or throwing 75 pitches in Triple-A before considering his elevation back to the Major League rotation by late August or early September. However, this plan now appears overly optimistic given his recent struggles. During rehabilitation, Sasaki has worked on refining his mechanics and experimenting with two-seam pitches, although he did not implement this pitch during his most recent appearance.

Critical Timing as Dodgers Seek Depth in Pitching Staff

Before being sidelined on May 13, Sasaki had shown flashes of potential but also inconsistency, posting a 4.72 ERA in eight starts in his rookie season with Los Angeles. His return was expected to provide additional depth as the Dodgers chase the San Diego Padres atop the National League West standings. While the rotation has regained some steadiness with Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell returning from injury, Sasaki’s impact could be valuable as a strategic starter or reliable backup down the stretch. For now, however, his readiness remains uncertain, complicating the team’s pitching plans during this pivotal stretch of the season.