Roki Sasaki IL move gives Dodgers easy opportunity to reintroduce former top prospect

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki exited Wednesday night's game against the Atlanta Braves during the fourth inning, after being visited by the team's athletic trainer. The Dodgers were quick to provide an update after their eventual 6-5 loss: a blister on his right middle finger that would send him to the IL.

It's been a difficult month within a difficult season for Sasaki, who needed 66 pitches to get through 3⅓ innings and has a 4.43 ERA in August. Sending him to the IL, even with something as minor as a blister, had to have been an easy decision for LA, who said Eric Lauer would move back into the rotation during Sasaki's absence.

The Dodgers' pitching depth, though depleted for the majority of the season with Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow's long IL stints, is enviable again with both healthy (and pitching exceptionally well). With Lauer back in the rotation, LA has an obvious replacement for him in the bullpen: Gavin Stone.

Stone has been on a rehab assignment in Triple-A since August 6, so a roster move is due. Lucky for the Dodgers, he's been almost un-hittable in Oklahoma City.

Gavin Stone should be the Dodgers' obvious roster replacement for Roki Sasaki

Stone has pitched 11⅓ innings over four appearances in Triple-A and has only given up two runs. He went four innings in his most recent start on Wednesday, so the Dodgers should be comfortable stretching him out for long relief appearances in the majors — specifically behind Shohei Ohtani — who is expected to open the Dodgers' Sunday game against the Detroit Tigers.

A former top prospect, Stone has been saddled with shoulder complications since September 2024, when he underwent season-ending surgery. Although he was thought to be ready to go by spring training this year, he ended up back on the IL — and missing most of the 2026 season — with shoulder inflammation.

However, Stone looks more than ready to get back to major league action, and he's the Dodgers' clearest replacement even if moving him off the 60-day IL will force a 40-man roster move. Emmet Sheehan is another option, but it's obvious the Dodgers have lost faith in him, and they have to make a move on Stone.

One pitcher goes, another is right there to take his place; that's how the Dodgers have operated when they're at their strongest. Sasaki's injury is just the latest example.

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