Roki Sasaki's next Dodgers test will be far more terrifying than playoff debut

The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the NLDS on Saturday hoping that their recurring bullpen problems wouldn’t doom them against a vigorous Philadelphia Phillies lineup. The Dodgers’ bullpen has been an ever-changing entity in 2025 due to injuries and inconsistent performance. LA’s latest move was to drop Edgardo Henriquez out of the picture, opening up a spot for future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw.

Outside of Blake Treinen and perhaps Kershaw, who can Dodgers manager Dave Roberts really trust against the Phillies? LA’s two-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds in the NLWC hardly featured any convincing reliever performances, although Roki Sasaki was one exception. The rookie phenom — who has had quite an up-and-down first year in MLB — needed just 11 pitches to retire the side in the ninth inning of Game 2 against the Reds.

It was an undeniably impressive playoff debut from Sasaki. He struck out two Reds batters, with his fastball velocity averaging 100.6 mph and hitting 101.4 mph. It was the latest sign that Sasaki’s recent journey through rehab to regain his health and confidence may have worked wonders.

However, the real test for Sasaki remains.

Will Roki Sasaki get exposed against the Phillies, or completely cure the narrative of his rookie season?

With all due respect to the Reds, Sasaki and the Dodgers are set to face a completely different beast in the NLDS against the Phillies. While Sasaki looked dominant in the ninth inning against Cincinnati, he’ll have his hands full with a much more lethal Phillies lineup, if and when the rookie gets a chance in the series. And based on the state of LA’s bullpen and on comments about Sasaki from Roberts, it does sound like Sasaki will play a role against Philadelphia.

“He's just really in a good head space,” Roberts said after the NLWC, per MLB.com’s Andrés Soto. “He's very confident right now. And whatever postseason game, I don't think is going to affect his confidence right now. He's in a great spot. The way he's handled himself up to this point, there's been no signs for me, which I had assumed, that the moment would be too big. And I have full confidence in whatever leverage role we put him in.”

Sasaki’s teammate, Max Muncy, also sounded confident about the rookie right-hander. “You can take mechanics out of it,” Muncy said, per Soto. “If you have a good demeanor on the mound, you can find a way to compete. For me, that’s what we’re seeing. He believes in himself, and we believe in him. That’s all that’s going to matter.”

Sasaki’s 2025 season has featured struggles, and it wouldn’t be shocking if he found himself on the wrong end of a big inning from Kyle Schwarber and Co. in the coming days, nor would it be an indictment on Sasaki’s talent and potential. He’s still just 23 years old, and the future remains incredibly bright.

On the other hand, if Sasaki were to deliver for the Dodgers in a high-pressure situation against Philly, the importance and gravity of that accomplishment would do much to paint his rookie campaign in an ultimately positive light.