Roki Sasaki was placed on the injured list after struggling with an injury. The Dodgers’ pitching rotation has taken a massive hit with several pitchers on the IL. Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, and several other pitchers are out. There’s no return timeline for some of their top pitchers, and Sasaki was the last to leave the rotation.
The Dodgers have a major problem with multiple pitchers on the IL. Sasaki’s MLB debut is not going as expected. Opponent hitters have found a way to hit his fastball. The pitcher is dealing with velocity issues and has played a low profile until the team found out that he was struggling.
Former Marlins President David Samson questioned Roki Sasaki’s injury with valid concern.
“Sasaki got an MRI yesterday. He’s got an impingement in his right shoulder. He had not said anything about this and claims that he’s been dealing with it for a few weeks. One of the biggest frustrations I have with players is when they do not tell the truth about their bodies, and we’ve gotta be the ones to guess what’s going on,” Samson said.
“Because of lack of performance, because of 4.7 ERA and because of a drop in velocity. He’s not getting strikeouts, he’s letting in runs and the velocity is down. Dude, are you lying to us?” Samson asked.
Samson has a valid question. All that Sasaki needed to do was tell the Dodgers that he was struggling with some discomfort, which he failed to do.
Dodgers Have Turned To Landon Knack For Roki Sasaki’s Replacement
Sasaki is placed on the 15-day IL, and he might take a longer time to get back. The Dodgers have turned to Landon Knack as Sasaki’s replacement. Knack seems to be the best option as the team’s fifth starter.
However, the pitcher’s numbers are worse than Sasaki’s since he’s struggling to make ends meet. Knack has a 5.89 ERA with a 2-1 record. He’s still not up to the mark with his pitching. The Dodgers have no option as they must turn to Knack to fill in for Roki Sasaki. Despite their struggles, the Dodgers are ranked No. 1 in the week 7 MLB power rankings.