ATLANTA –– Roki Sasaki’s second-half resurgence hit a sudden speed bump Wednesday night.
In the fourth inning of the Dodgers’ game against the Braves at Truist Park, Sasaki made an early exit from his start with what the team later said was a blister on his right middle finger.
No further information on his status was immediately available.
Sasaki hadn’t shown any signs of distress over the first three innings of Wednesday’s game, when he allowed a run in the first before retiring seven of his next nine batters. But in the fourth, he issued a leadoff walk, then a single, a run-scoring sacrifice fly and a double, prompting a visit from pitching coach Mark Prior and interpreter Will Ireton.
After a few moments, Prior then motioned to the dugout for head athletic trainer Thomas Albert. Manager Dave Roberts also made his way out to the mound. Another brief discussion ensued, with Albert inspecting Sasaki’s right pitching hand, before the 24-year-old ultimately departed from the game.
Entering Wednesday, Sasaki was in the midst of an excellent second half, posting a 2.31 ERA over six starts since the All-Star break. Finally, it appeared, he was tapping into the potential the Dodgers saw in him when he signed out of Japan last year.
But now, Sasaki –– who has been seen as a potential candidate to shift to the bullpen in October, as he did during last year’s playoffs –– might have a new issue to worry about.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
