Dodgers Place Pitcher Sasaki on Injured List, Call Up Halvorsen

Roki Sasaki, the highly anticipated Japanese pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, has been placed on the 15-day injured list. Sasaki was forced to leave his latest start after just 3.1 innings due to a blister that developed on his right middle finger.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Sasaki is expected to be sidelined for at least two weeks. He will undergo a rehabilitation process, including potential minor league starts, before returning to the major league club. Roberts indicated that Sasaki's return to the starting rotation would depend on the timing of his recovery and the team's pitching needs at that point.

Last season, Sasaki made a significant impact in the postseason as a reliever. When asked about the possibility of him returning to the bullpen this year, Roberts acknowledged its value but also stressed the importance of integrating him into the starting rotation to provide rest for other pitchers. The manager noted that decisions would be influenced by the team's schedule, off-days, and the performance of other starters upon Sasaki's potential return.

To fill Sasaki's spot on the active roster, the Dodgers have promoted 26-year-old right-handed pitcher Seth Halvorsen from their Triple-A affiliate. Halvorsen, acquired by the Dodgers before the trade deadline, has made one MLB appearance this season, pitching one scoreless inning. Overall, he has a 4.50 ERA in 19 innings pitched across 22 games this year.

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Of course, that is valuable, but I think at a certain point putting him in the starting rotation, giving other pitchers a rest, is also valuable.