Dodgers activate Sasaki amid bullpen struggles

PHOENIX -- The Los Angeles Dodgers activated Japanese rookie Roki Sasaki from the 60-day injured database connected Wednesday, and the right-hander is expected to propulsion retired of the bullpen implicit the last 5 games of the regular play to spot if helium tin gain a postseason role.

Manager Dave Roberts confirmed the move, saying right-hander Kirby Yates volition caput to the injured database due to the fact that of a lingering hamstring issue. The determination is retroactive to Sept. 21.

Roberts said helium doesn't person a circumstantial relation for Sasaki, but wanted him to instrumentality vantage of his opportunities.

"Giving everything helium has for an inning oregon 2 astatine a time," Roberts said. "That's benignant of what I see. Let the show play out. Just spell aft guys and beryllium connected the attack."

Sasaki, 23, is 1-1 with a 4.72 ERA and 24 strikeouts successful 34⅓ innings implicit 8 large league appearances this season, each starts. He's besides spent clip astatine Triple-A Oklahoma City, wherever helium was 0-2 with a 6.10 ERA implicit 7 appearances, including 5 starts.

The defending World Series champion Dodgers are searching for bullpen assistance arsenic the postseason approaches. Tanner Scott blew a prevention successful Tuesday's 5-4 nonaccomplishment to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Sasaki agreed successful January to a insignificant league declaration with a $6.5 cardinal signing bonus arsenic an planetary amateur escaped cause nether Major League Baseball's rules, leaving the Pacific League's Chiba Lotte Marines nether the posting system.

His debut play successful the large leagues has been mostly disappointing, but the Dodgers anticipation helium tin inactive person a relation successful October.

Sasaki is 1 of 3 Japanese players connected the Dodgers' roster on with two-way prima Shohei Ohtani and close hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto.