Dave Roberts Provides Encouraging Update on Dodgers' Roki Sasaki

"He's pain-free," Roberts said postgame. "When we start that build-up, it should be soon. He's already moving around. We all feel encouraged where he's at right now, as far as the pain."

This update from Roberts is a positive one, as it indicates Sasaki is making progress in his recovery. However, only a few hours prior, things didn't look as great.

"Roki Sasaki has stopped throwing the last few days." Ardaya posted on X pregame. "Dave Roberts said Sasaki still doesn't feel comfortable with his shoulder throwing with intensity. Won't go for new testing, but sure sounds like it's an if, not when he is back this year from Roberts' comments."

Compared to the postgame comments, this update on Sasaki painted a very bleak picture for his potential return to the mound. Between this update from Ardaya and the news that Sasaki stopped his throwing program, the outlook for his return wasn't great.

However, despite Sasaki's right shoulder issue initially being reported as potentially 'season-ending,' there was a lot more optimism postgame from Roberts. 

In Sasaki's rookie season with the Dodgers, he has a 4.72 ERA and 24 strikeouts through eight starts. He is 1-1 and has pitched in just 34.1 innings for the Dodgers.

Sasaki is one of many pitchers on the Dodgers' long list of players on the injured list. A majority of those pitchers are expected back at some point in 2025, but Roberts' initial report pregame made it seem likely that Sasaki was done for the year.

But this new postgame report is a much more encouraging sign for the 23-year-old rookie. Sasaki still has a long road to get back onto the mound, but compared to the initial reports pregame, things are in a much better spot than they were previously.