Dodgers' Dave Roberts hints at $6M arm returning as reliever for postseason after long absence

The Los Angeles Dodgers are gearing up for another postseason run — one they hope ends in a back-to-back World Series title. But as October approaches, the Dodgers face a critical bullpen issue that still needs to be resolved. And after being largely counted out, there might be an unexpected solution on the horizon.

“The Dodgers no longer can count on rookie Roki Sasaki helping them down the stretch. His velocity is nowhere near the 102 mph he threw in Japan. He has thrown 59 fastballs through his two rehab starts, and has generated only one swing-and-miss,” USA Today’s Bob Nightengale wrote.

Sasaki was seemingly written off after struggling with a mental block during his return from injury — an issue that has defined much of his summer.

“There’s always a mental component when you’re hurt,” pitching coach Mark Prior said. “and you’re always wondering, ‘Am I going to feel something at that moment?’ … There is a little bit of a mental barrier that they all need to get through.”

However, manager Dave Roberts' latest comments suggest Sasaki may now be in line for a bullpen role in October. It’s a big ask, but it's also likely the only path for him to make the postseason roster.

“The first part of it was him giving himself the opportunity to agree to go to the 'pen. And then the next part is, he's got to perform," manager Dave Roberts said. "Tonight, he performed. He was really good. And let's see it again on Sunday. And then it kind of puts the onus on the organization to make a decision. In the postseason, there's no roles. They're all leverage."

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Roberts isn’t wrong — in the postseason, it’s all about winning each individual game. The Dodgers thrived under that mentality better than anyone last year. Now, Sasaki has a chance of a lifetime — and it's up to him to prove he's ready.

While this isn’t the way anyone expected Sasaki’s season to end, he now has a shot to make a major impact. A strong postseason showing could also help rebuild his confidence heading into 2026.