LOS ANGELES — Roki Sasaki was back on the Dodger Stadium mound Friday.
This time, the Japanese rookie was facing hitters in a simulated-game setting. Sasaki threw 46 pitches in three innings against reserve outfielder Alex Call and two minor-leaguers.
“I thought it was a good simulated game for him, get up and down three times,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Fastball is fine. The split was good at times. He accomplished what he needed to.”
Roberts said the next step for Sasaki could be a minor-league injury-rehabilitation assignment.
Sasaki hit 97 mph with his four-seam fastball in the first two innings and was still hitting 96 mph in his third inning. He also mixed in a two-seam fastball, something he wasn’t throwing in his eight starts for the Dodgers earlier this season.