Roki Sasaki's worst-case scenario rehab start casts doubt on rest of Dodgers' season

Roki Sasaki made his first rehab start on Thursday night for the Oklahoma City Comets, and it went almost as badly as Dodgers fans feared.

He and the Dodgers had a goal of three innings in mind, but Sasaki only managed to make it through two (he did appear in the third, but failed to record an out). In the top of the first, he gave up a leadoff walk, and the runner came around to score after a stolen base and a single. He got two outs, neither on a strikeout, before giving up two more singles, one of which drove in another run. He needed 23 pitches to get out of the first.

His second inning was a little cleaner, but he still gave up a single and failed to strike anyone out. He was pulled in the third after two more singles. He threw 41 pitches altogether, and his fastball topped out at just 95.7 MPH (but mostly sat 93-94).

The Dodgers want to get Sasaki back, sure, but Dave Roberts has already opened up the possibility of not carrying him on the postseason roster. With the way that first appearance went, it may be more likely than anyone would've guessed at the beginning of the season.

Roki Sasaki only managed to get through two innings in his first Dodgers rehab start

Sasaki's fastball was sitting around 96-97 MPH during sim games ahead of his rehab assignment, but he was either holding back on it for his first start or is struggling again. The fact that he generated very few whiffs and no strikeouts is more worrisome, and his command was very clearly not there on Thursday night.

Roberts said, "I do know we're going to take the 13 best pitchers [into the postseason]. [...] If Roki is a part of that in some capacity, then that would be great. And if he's not, then he won't be."

The Dodgers are in a safer place with their starters lately and (provided everyone stays healthy) will be spoiled for choice in October. Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Clayton Kershaw feel like the only real choices for a playoff rotation.

Sasaki could move to the bullpen, but right now he doesn't look trustworthy even a regular season capacity. He's working toward a goal of five innings and 75 pitches in his rehab assignment, but if he keeps looking like he did on Thursday, the Dodgers will be in no hurry to bring him back.