Dodgers Injury Updates: Good news for Roki Sasaki, bullpen arms, and Kiké Hernández

The Dodgers took a gamble when they decided not to aggressively add pitchers at the trade deadline. They were betting that most of their injured starters and relievers would be back in time for the postseason, and trusting that the healthy arms would be able to hold down the fort until then.

The second part of that plan has worked out a little dubiously, but the first part is actually sort of unfolding the way they envisioned. Blake Snell returned to bring the rotation to six and looked great in his last outing against the Blue Jays. Roki Sasaki, the last major question mark this season, doesn't seem to be too far behind him now.

Sasaki completed his last sim game on Friday, when he threw 45 pitches across three innings. He's set to begin his rehab assignment in Triple-A Oklahoma City next Thursday, with the goal of throwing three innings.

Dave Roberts isn't promising Sasaki a place on the postseason roster as a starter nor a reliever, but Sasaki still has the opportunity to come back for a few regular season appearances to try to end his rookie season on a more positive note.

Dodgers Injury Updates: Roki Sasaki set to begin a rehab assignment, Kirby Yates and Michael Kopech facing hitters, Kiké Hernández pain-free

Kirby Yates and Michael Kopech are also working toward rehab assignments, and Yates is progressing a little faster than Kopech. It's both pitchers' second stint on the IL this year, but Yates is only on the 15-day with lower back pain while Kopech was transferred to the 60-day with knee inflammation, which will keep him out until late August. Both are facing hitters this week, and Yates is expected to begin a rehab assignment after his next BP.

Injuries have also been mounting for Dodgers position players, and LA is currently without all three of their utility men — Kiké Hernández, Tommy Edman, and Hyeseong Kim. Hernández has been on the IL the longest and has had the most trouble dealing with elbow inflammation, but he's completing baseball activities. Dave Roberts said that he's pain-free and could come back to the roster in September when rosters expand.

Kim was shut down completely shortly after he went onto the IL following an injection. Roberts said that he could take live BP this week before going on a rehab assignment, but he doesn't have a concrete timeline yet.