Dave Roberts on why Freddie Freeman is not starting Game 2 of the Tokyo Series
Dodgers acquire Sauer and option Wrobleski as Kershaw goes on 60-day IL
TOKYO (AP) – The Los Angeles Dodgers selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Matt Sauer and optioned left-hander Justin Wrobleski to the minors Wednesday.
To make room on the 40-man roster, pitcher Clayton Kershaw went on the 60-day injured list as expected.
The 26-year-old Sauer, a non-roster invite to spring training, had eight strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings over four appearances this spring. He made his major league debut last year with Kansas City and was 0-0 with a 7.71 ERA in 14 games
Wrobleski made four appearances for the Dodgers this spring, going 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA.
As expected, Kershaw is starting the season on the IL. The 36-year-old left-hander is beginning his 18th season with the Dodgers. He is 36 strikeouts from reaching 3,000.
Last year, the three-time Cy Young Award winner was 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA in seven games before missing the rest of the season with a left big toe injury. He´s rehabbing after offseason surgeries.
Roki fans fellow countryman Suzuki in first inning of MLB debut
TOKYO — The time has come: Roki Sasaki’s Major League debut against the Cubs at Tokyo Dome is underway.
Sasaki signed with the Dodgers this past offseason, when he was one of the most highly coveted names on the market as an extremely talented — and controllable — arm. Across four seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball with the Chiba Lotte Marines, the 23-year-old right-hander went 29-15 with a 2.10 ERA and 505 strikeouts in 394 2/3 innings.
Ranked MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 overall prospect in baseball, Sasaki brought staggering expectations with him to the big leagues. While the Dodgers are high on his potential, the team is also aware that he’s not a finished project and could have some bumps in the road as he transitions to the Major Leagues.
“I think when you get youth and talent, which is Roki, what that introduces is variance,” manager Dave Roberts said before the Tokyo Series finale. “There’s going to be some really high highs, and then some things that you just don’t know that are gonna happen because of his inexperience.”
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Here’s an inning-by-inning breakdown of Sasaki’s highly anticipated debut:
Second inning
Sasaki struggled some with his command, walking leadoff hitter Michael Busch on four pitches and issuing another free pass to Dansby Swanson one batter later. But he escaped the jam without allowing a run, getting Pete Crow-Armstrong to line into an unassisted double play turned by Miguel Rojas.
First inning
Sasaki came out firing, hitting 99.5 mph on his first pitch. Eight of his 11 pitches registered at 99 mph or higher.
He retired the first three Cubs batters in order, getting two flyouts to bookend his first Major League strikeout. Sasaki’s countryman, Seiya Suzuki, was the first K of the night.
