Dodgers weigh return of Díaz and Sasaki as pitching options progress
Edwin Díaz could return as soon as Sunday, while Roki Sasaki may rejoin Los Angeles during its upcoming road trip. Neither pitcher has been cleared.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers Edwin Díaz and Roki Sasaki are moving through rehabilitation programmes that could bring them back from the injured list, although both remain subject to medical and performance clearance.
The Athletic’s Katie Woo, as reported by ClutchPoints and Yahoo Sports, said Díaz is scheduled for back-to-back rehabilitation appearances beginning Wednesday. A positive assessment could allow him to rejoin the Dodgers as soon as Sunday in Miami.
Díaz was placed on the 15-day injured list on 18 August with neck inflammation, his second stint on the list this season. His first minor-league rehabilitation appearance was scoreless, with one walk and a called strikeout across 16 pitches.
Díaz has struggled since returning from April elbow surgery, and manager Dave Roberts has said he would initially be used in lower-leverage situations if activated rather than immediately resuming the ninth-inning role.
Sasaki could return during the Dodgers’ upcoming road trip and is eligible to return Friday, subject to clearance. He has been sidelined since leaving his 26 August start against the Atlanta Braves with a blister on his right middle finger.
Before the injury, Sasaki had a 2.31 earned-run average across six starts and 35 innings after the All-Star break. The Dodgers entered Tuesday at 87–57, leading the National League West.
