Manager Dave Roberts emphasized they wouldn’t necessarily be deployed in that order come the playoffs, but their performances in the Dodgers’ 2-0 victory over the Giants indicated they could be the foundation of a championship-caliber bullpen for the Dodgers.
uncertain
they → emphasize → Dodgers
“I don’t want you to pigeonhole me into using these guys in certain roles, but, yeah, I think it’s just better to have as many guys that you have confidence in leverage (situations),” Roberts said.
asserted
Roberts → want → situations
Sasaki followed a seven-inning effort by starter Tarik Skubal by striking out two batters in a perfect eighth inning.
asserted
Sasaki → follow → inning
Scott retired the side in the ninth to record his 24th save.
asserted
Scott → retire → save
On their World Series run last year, the bullpen was something the Dodgers had to work around.
asserted
Dodgers → have → run
They were extremely dependent on their starting pitchers, whom they counted on not only to pitch deeper into games but also make relief contributions.
asserted
they → count → contributions
The Dodgers should enter the playoffs next month with an entirely different feel.
asserted
Dodgers → enter → feel
Scott has recovered from his nightmare season last year, looking more like the Padres relief ace who shut down Shohei Ohtani in the 2024 playoffs to earn a $72-million payday with the Dodgers.
asserted
who → recover → Dodgers
As for the 24-year-old Sasaki, he looks even better as a reliever than he did last year.
“I think the fastball’s better,” Roberts said.
asserted
Roberts → look → reliever
“I think the split’s better.
asserted
split → think → ?
It’s also nice that he’s already done it.
asserted
he → ’ → it
So, just in total, he’s just a better pitcher than he was last year and a lot more confident.
asserted
he → ’ → total
Four of the six fastballs Sasaki threw were clocked at faster than 100 mph.
asserted
Sasaki → throw → mph
The other two registered readings of more than 99 mph.
asserted
two → register → mph
“Overall, he just keeps getting better,” Scott said.
asserted
Scott → keep → ?
“Even when he was starting, I thought he was pretty dominant.
asserted
he → start → ?
For him to get moved to the bullpen as we go into October, it’s huge for us.”
asserted
it → move → us
Sasaki started seven games after the All-Star break and was 2-0 with a 3.05 earned-run average.
asserted
Sasaki → start → average
A blister on his pitching hand landed him on the injured list.
asserted
blister → land → list
When he returned earlier this week, he did so as a reliever.
asserted
he → return → reliever
He also struck out two batters in his other relief appearance, a scoreless inning on Tuesday against the San Diego Padres.
asserted
He → strike → Padres
“Throughout the season, I’ve sharpened myself technically,” Sasaki said in Japanese.
asserted
Sasaki → sharpen → Japanese
“Compared to last year, I feel much better in that respect.”
asserted
I → compare → respect
Sasaki will likely pitch next in the regular-season finale on Sunday, Roberts said.
asserted
Roberts → pitch → Sunday
He could close out games again in October, as Roberts said there could be games in which he calls on Scott to pitch against a particularly dangerous segment of the opposing lineup earlier in the game.
uncertain
he → close → game
Scott said he was open to pitching in any situation.
asserted
he → say → situation
“Just get outs,” Scott said.
asserted
Scott → get → outs
“That’s all that matters in October.
asserted
that → ’ → October
“October is about winning every single game.
asserted
October → win → game
It really doesn’t matter what roles you get asked to do.
asserted
you → matter → roles
The Aporia
