SAN FRANCISCO – What unfolded on Friday night was quite impressive, especially when looking at the lineup on paper.
Roki Sasaki took the mound in the eighth inning, followed by Tanner Scott finishing things up in the ninth.
Manager Dave Roberts pointed out that their usage in this order may not be set in stone for the postseason, but their strong showings during the Dodgers’ 2-0 win against the Giants suggest they could form a critical part of a playoff-ready bullpen.
“I don’t want to box myself into specific roles for these guys, but it’s definitely beneficial to have a variety of pitchers you can trust in high-stakes situations,” Roberts mentioned.
Sasaki came in after Tarik Skubal had pitched seven solid innings, striking out two in a flawless eighth.
Scott closed it out by retiring the side in the ninth, marking his 24th save.
Last year, the Dodgers had to navigate their way around bullpen issues during their World Series run. They relied heavily on their starters, expecting them to pitch deeper into games and even step up in relief. Sasaki became a closer largely due to a lack of alternatives, albeit with a good dose of talent.
This year, the atmosphere heading into the playoffs feels different for the Dodgers.
Scott has bounced back from a rough previous season, showing flashes of the relief ace who once silenced Shohei Ohtani during the 2024 playoffs, earning him a lucrative contract with the Dodgers.
Sasaki, just 24, appears to be even more impressive as a reliever than he was last season.
“I think his fastball is better,” Roberts observed. “His split is improved, too. And it’s reassuring that he has experience in these roles now. He’s just more confident and overall a more effective pitcher than before, especially based on his last few outings.”
Out of six fastballs Sasaki threw, four topped 100 mph, while the others were clocked above 99 mph.
“He’s continually getting better,” Scott noted. “Even during his time as a starter, he was dominant. Shifting him to the bullpen as we approach October is a big plus for us.”
After the All-Star break, Sasaki started seven games and posted a 2-0 record with a 3.05 earned-run average. A blister on his pitching hand put him on the injured list, but he returned as a reliever earlier this week.
He also struck out two batters in another relief inning this past Tuesday against the San Diego Padres.
“Throughout the season, I’ve worked hard to refine my skills,” Sasaki said in Japanese. “I definitely feel better technically compared to last year.”
According to Roberts, Sasaki is likely to pitch again in the regular-season finale on Sunday.
He may find himself closing out games in October, as Roberts hinted that there might be scenarios where Scott could be called to deal with a particularly tough segment of the opposing lineup earlier in the game.
Scott expressed his willingness to pitch in any capacity.
“It’s all about getting outs,” he stated. “That’s what matters in October. Just get outs.”
“In October, winning every game is paramount. The specific roles? They don’t really matter. Just go out there and perform.”
