Roki Sasaki Hits IL After 66-Pitch Exit in Dodgers' 6-5 Loss to Braves

Roki Sasaki will land on the injured list after a blister on his right middle finger forced an early exit during Wednesday's game at Truist Park.

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki exited Wednesday’s game against the Atlanta Braves after throwing 66 pitches, leading to an immediate injured list stint. The 24-year-old starter left the mound at Truist Park during the fourth inning as the Dodgers eventually fell in a 6-5 walk-off defeat. Before the injury occurred, Sasaki had maintained a 2.31 ERA across six starts following the All-Star break. The skin on his right middle finger initially tore while he was facing Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies at the start of the bottom of the fourth.

Manager Dave Roberts confirmed the pitcher will be sidelined for a minimum of two weeks. The blister significantly hindered Sasaki’s ability to command his slider before he was pulled from the contest. While a layer of skin remained intact for three batters following the initial tear against Albies, the tissue eventually ripped away completely. Sasaki noted through an interpreter that he felt no warning signs before the skin gave way and the condition worsened rapidly during play.

Rotation Changes and Injury Management

Eric Lauer is set to temporarily fill the vacancy in the Los Angeles starting rotation. To maintain arm strength during his recovery, Sasaki is permitted to play catch provided his finger remains bandaged. The Dodgers training staff has not yet established a definitive timeline for the full healing process. This specific physical issue is not new for the right-hander, who previously managed similar blister problems during his career in Japan.

Dave Roberts described the sudden injury as a surprise, noting that the pitcher had been on an encouraging run of form. The move to the injured list comes at a time when the Dodgers' pitching staff is seeing significant shifts. Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow have recently returned from the IL, and Shohei Ohtani is potentially scheduled to return to the mound as early as Sunday. Additionally, Tarik Skubal and Yoshinobu Yamamoto are currently considered locks for the starting rotation.

Postseason Outlook and Bullpen Transition

If Sasaki’s absence extends for a prolonged period, the club intends to transition him into a relief role. This shift would serve as preparation for the playoffs, where he is considered highly unlikely to receive starts. The presence of established starters like Yamamoto and Skubal limits the available opportunities for the young right-hander in the October rotation. Moving to the bullpen would allow him to build up his workload in a different capacity once the finger heals.

Wednesday's 6-5 loss in Atlanta ended with a walk-off result, overshadowing the recent statistical success Sasaki had achieved since mid-season. The injury halts a stretch of play that Roberts characterized as a "good run" for the pitcher. The team will now monitor the healing of the right middle finger to determine if he can return to his previous form before the conclusion of the regular season. Alden Gonzalez reported these details following the late-night conclusion of the game in Atlanta on August 26, 2026.