When the Dodgers landed Roki Sasaki last offseason, it felt like they’d won the jackpot. The Japanese phenom was supposed to slot right into an already-loaded rotation and give the defending champs an even bigger edge in their bid for back-to-back titles. However, things didn’t go according to plan.

Sasaki stumbled out of the gate, dealt with injuries, and for a while, it looked like his 2025 season might be over. However, instead of forcing him back as a starter, Dave Roberts and the Dodgers decided to unleash his triple-digit fastball out of the bullpen. And guess what, the move paid off instantly.

Notably, in the Wild Card Game 2 against the Reds, Sasaki came in and blew hitters away. He threw 11 pitches, two SOs, and a perfect inning. The question now is whether this will be his new role in the future. Sasaki himself isn’t so sure. “The difficulty of pitching in relief is just the way I’m warming up; it takes a while to warm up. In a playoff format, I’m able to do that because I have the stamina of a starting pitcher.”

Well, even with how sharp he’s looked out of the bullpen, Sasaki isn’t convinced he could handle a full season as a reliever, per Dodgers Nation. The Dodgers, though, aren’t worried about the long term as they just need him firing out of the ‘pen this postseason.

With Tanner Scott and Blake Treinen struggling down the stretch, Sasaki’s late-September showings were enough to lock him onto the playoff roster. Notably, his lights-out Game 2 performance sent a clear message… The Dodgers trust the 23-year-old more than most of their other late-inning arms.

And Dave Roberts certainly isn’t shy about it. Asked whether he’d be comfortable using Sasaki in high-leverage spots, the skipper didn’t hesitate: “I would. I would.” He praised Sasaki’s poise, saying the moment hasn’t been too big for him and that he has full confidence putting the rookie in any leverage role. But we are skeptical if the addition of Sasaki would entirely resolve the bullpen concern for the Dodgers.

Roki Sasaki arrived in Los Angeles with massive hype, the Japanese phenom who once threw a perfect game in NPB and was expected to anchor the rotation for years. Instead, injuries pushed him into the bullpen, where his dominance has been both surprising and crucial. With Tanner Scott, Blake Treinen, and Alex Vesia struggling, and only Evan Phillips plus flashes from Joe Kelly or Ryan Brasier offering stability, Dave Roberts found his late-inning answer.

Still, Sasaki admits relief work doesn’t suit his starter’s rhythm, and the Dodgers see him back in the rotation by 2026. His role recalls Joba Chamberlain’s bullpen burst with the Yankees or Shohei Ohtani’s shifting assignments — short-term brilliance, long-term uncertainty.

The Dodgers’ bullpen concern is far from over

The Dodgers’ bullpen concern is too big to get solved by this playoff…

For example, Game 1 showed exactly why the Dodgers’ bullpen has been such a sore spot. In the game, Blake Snell pitched seven innings, nine SOs, and just two runs allowed. But the moment he handed the ball over, things unraveled fast.

It took three relievers and nearly 60 pitches just to limp through the eighth inning. For reference, Vesia gave up two runs while recording only one out, Henriquez walked two and surrendered a run without getting anyone out, and Dreyer had to clean up the mess. Hence, in short, it was ugly!

And this wasn’t an isolated problem. Tanner Scott, the big-money free agent meant to anchor the ninth inning, completely collapsed in the second half — blowing three of his last seven save chances while carrying a brutal 7.50 ERA over his final 15 outings. Blake Treinen wasn’t much better, stumbling into October with an ERA near 10 in September alone.

Now, that’s the reality the Dodgers are facing. In this situation, yes, Sasaki feels like a quick solution, and he’s certainly given them a spark. But expecting him to fix this bullpen in the long term single-handedly might be asking too much.