MLB · 6 months ago

Sasaki Injury Adds to Dodgers’ Woes—Who Fills the Rotation Gap?

SportsGrid Contributor Just Baseball

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8) The Road Ahead: Adapt and Survive
The Dodgers are entering survival mode, but that doesn’t mean they’re hopeless.

There are still several paths forward: lean on internal arms like Miller or Casparius, make a deal before the deadline (expect names like Garrett Crochet or Tyler Anderson to surface in rumors), or ride the hot bats until help arrives.

Speaking of offense, it’s already beginning to take shape. The call-up of top catching prospect Dalton Rushing is a clear signal—Los Angeles is doubling down on run production to balance the rotation instability.

And despite all the setbacks, the Dodgers remain atop the NL West at 28-15. That speaks volumes about the roster's depth, coaching adaptability, and star power.

Eventually, this staff will get healthier. Sasaki, Kershaw, Snell, Glasnow, and others are all expected back. Until then, this stretch represents an opportunity for young arms to emerge, fringe pitchers to earn trust, and the Dodgers to show the kind of resilience that turns contenders into champions.

As we’ve seen time and again in Los Angeles, the story isn’t about how you start—it’s about who answers the call when things get tough.

The post Roki Sasaki’s Injury Adds to the Dodgers’ Pitching Concerns appeared first on Just Baseball.
1) One of Baseball's Best
Coming into the 2025 season, expectations surrounding the LA Dodgers’ starting rotation weren’t just high—they were historic. With marquee additions like Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto joining forces with Blake Snell and a healthy Clayton Kershaw, many within the organization and across the league saw the potential for one of the most dominant rotations ever assembled in MLB history.

But as any seasoned Dodgers watcher knows, potential only goes so far. And so far in 2025, the word “potential” has felt more like a mirage than a foundation.

Thanks to Just Baseball for this slideshow article's stats, analysis, and insights.
2) Rotation of Dreams Turns Into a Health Crisis
Injuries have shredded what should have been a fearsome front five. Glasnow and Snell have combined for just seven starts. Kershaw, Gavin Stone, Emmet Sheehan, River Ryan, and Kyle Hurt all began the year on the IL, forcing the Dodgers to test the very edges of their organizational depth.

While Kershaw is finally expected to return soon, the domino effect of this many absences has compounded every injury. Worse yet, the current rotation is littered with players still recovering from major past issues—Yamamoto missed time in Japan, and neither Dustin May nor Tony Gonsolin pitched in 2024.

And if you think the bullpen was spared, think again. Blake Treinen, Evan Phillips, Michael Kopech, and Brusdar Graterol—each of whom plays a vital role in late-inning matchups—are still sidelined, leaving Dave Roberts and Mark Prior constantly reshuffling the deck.

Unfortunately, the latest blow may be the most concerning yet.

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3) From Bad to Worse: Sasaki's Setback
The Dodgers’ long-term investment in Roki Sasaki took a hit on May 13, when the phenom right-hander was placed on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement. The news wasn’t a total shock to those who have been monitoring his declining velocity and control, but it still sent shockwaves through the organization.

Sasaki, just 23 and arguably the most high-upside rookie arm in the league, flashed 100.5 mph in Tokyo to begin the year. But since then, he’s struggled to find his command and maintain velocity, dipping as low as 92.3 mph. While some initially chalked it up to mechanical tweaks or adjusting to MLB hitters, the root cause turned out to be more serious.

Dave Roberts revealed that Sasaki had been pitching through shoulder discomfort without notifying the staff—likely a result of his competitive drive and the cultural differences in injury communication. After his latest outing raised red flags, an MRI confirmed the impingement.

This isn’t Sasaki’s first bout with shoulder trouble either. He was limited during his final year in NPB with shoulder and oblique issues. While the Dodgers haven’t issued a firm timeline, the smart bet is on a multi-month recovery.

It’s a gut punch for a team already stretched thin.
4) Current Top 4
With Sasaki sidelined, the Dodgers are once again evaluating next-man-up options. For now, the rotation consists of Yamamoto, May, Gonsolin, and rookie Landon Knack.

Yamamoto has looked every bit the ace, with a 2.12 ERA that ranks in the top 10 in baseball. Despite minor hiccups in his last two starts, he remains the most consistent presence. Gonsolin’s return has been encouraging—his 2.81 ERA and 21 Ks in 16 innings show he’s rounding back into form. May and Knack have flashed upside, but both remain question marks regarding innings and consistency.

So, who fills the fifth spot?
5) Who Steps Up Now?
The immediate choices come down to Bobby Miller and Justin Wrobleski.

Miller remains a high-ceiling option with a fastball that can dominate, but his 2024 was a disaster (8.52 ERA across 13 starts), and his lone 2025 appearance wasn’t much better. Still, he struck out seven in just three innings and has the kind of stuff that can play if given an actual runway. The Dodgers believe in his long-term potential; the question is whether he can unlock it under pressure.

Wrobleski, while not as heralded, offers a different kind of value. He won’t light up radar guns, but he could eat innings and offer some rotational stability. Given the current state of affairs, that alone could be a win.
6) The Next Tier: Casparius
Two other names worth watching: Ben Casparius and Nick Frasso.

Casparius has excelled in a swingman role, giving the Dodgers critical innings out of the pen. The front office has floated the idea of transitioning him into a starter role. His pitch mix supports the move, and the Dodgers wouldn’t need to shuffle the roster to make it happen. The trade-off, of course, is losing his flexibility in the bullpen—an area already under siege from injuries.
7) The Next Tier: Frasso
Then there’s Frasso, a more intriguing (and risky) play. Once a top-five prospect in the Dodgers’ system, Frasso missed all of 2024 with a torn labrum. His elite extension and 70-grade fastball make him a nightmare for hitters when healthy. He’s still ramping back up, but the front office may be tempted to see if he can offer even a few innings of electricity. He’s already on the 40-man roster—now it’s just about the timing.
8) The Road Ahead: Adapt and Survive
The Dodgers are entering survival mode, but that doesn’t mean they’re hopeless.

There are still several paths forward: lean on internal arms like Miller or Casparius, make a deal before the deadline (expect names like Garrett Crochet or Tyler Anderson to surface in rumors), or ride the hot bats until help arrives.

Speaking of offense, it’s already beginning to take shape. The call-up of top catching prospect Dalton Rushing is a clear signal—Los Angeles is doubling down on run production to balance the rotation instability.

And despite all the setbacks, the Dodgers remain atop the NL West at 28-15. That speaks volumes about the roster's depth, coaching adaptability, and star power.

Eventually, this staff will get healthier. Sasaki, Kershaw, Snell, Glasnow, and others are all expected back. Until then, this stretch represents an opportunity for young arms to emerge, fringe pitchers to earn trust, and the Dodgers to show the kind of resilience that turns contenders into champions.

As we’ve seen time and again in Los Angeles, the story isn’t about how you start—it’s about who answers the call when things get tough.

The post Roki Sasaki’s Injury Adds to the Dodgers’ Pitching Concerns appeared first on Just Baseball.
1) One of Baseball's Best
Coming into the 2025 season, expectations surrounding the LA Dodgers’ starting rotation weren’t just high—they were historic. With marquee additions like Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto joining forces with Blake Snell and a healthy Clayton Kershaw, many within the organization and across the league saw the potential for one of the most dominant rotations ever assembled in MLB history.

But as any seasoned Dodgers watcher knows, potential only goes so far. And so far in 2025, the word “potential” has felt more like a mirage than a foundation.

Thanks to Just Baseball for this slideshow article's stats, analysis, and insights.

Sasaki Injury Adds to Dodgers’ Woes—Who Fills the Rotation Gap?

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