If the Dodgers had any weakness to exploit as they attempt to defend their World Series crown, it would be a spotty bullpen. But manager Dave Roberts has figured out a way to address that by using Roki Sasaki in the highest-leverage situation—a decision that worked out quite well on Thursday night as the Dodgers punched their ticket to the National League Division Series.
With Game 4 knotted 1-1 in the top of the eighth, Roberts turned to Sasaki, a former starter who has found new life coming out of the bullpen, for a stress-free inning. Then an easy ninth. Then the right-handed pitcher took a seat in the dugout but did not lose one ounce of focus of his job in the top of the 10th.
