Dodgers 'downplaying massive problem' with latest Rōki Sasaki update

The Los Angeles Dodgers have placed Rōki Sasaki on the injured list with a shoulder impingement. However, it was revealed that he had been dealing with the issue for multiple weeks.

"Dave Roberts said Roki Sasaki got an MRI yesterday that showed an impingement in his right shoulder. He didn’t say anything until after his last start, but said he had been dealing with this for a few weeks," wrote The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya on X.

The concerning thing is not that the Dodgers will have another pitcher hit the injured list. Rather, it is the fact that Sasaki has dealt with shoulder issues in the past, his velocity was down and he did not mention it to the team until his last start, when he gave up five runs in four innings of work.

"Like pretty much every other time the Dodgers have found themselves in a self-made mess, the task of downplaying a major problem once again was made the responsibility of manager Dave Roberts," wrote the Los Angeles Times' Dylan Hernández.

The Dodgers had been trying to resurrect Sasaki's velocity. He touched 100 mph in the season opener in Tokyo, but has consistently been in the low 90s ever since. He has a 4.72 ERA and has issued 22 walks in eight games. The Dodgers gave him a $6.5 million signing bonus. The Dodgers knew Sasaki had health concerns when signing him. His telling the team that he was experiencing discomfort could be the start of a long-term problem for the Dodgers.

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His shoulder pain would be an explanation as to why his velocity was down. He never had a full season where he was healthy for the Chiba Lotte Marines. Roberts did not reveal a timeline for Sasaki's return, but with shoulder issues already on his resume, the Dodgers may need to worry that it is a chronic issue.

"Roberts described Sasaki’s injury as 'benign' but didn’t say when he might resume throwing," wrote Hernández. "The manager insisted there were no thoughts of sending him to the minors, despite Sasaki posting a 4.72 earned-run average and completing six innings in just one start."

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