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By Drew VonScio
Contributing Sports Writer
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The Los Angeles Dodgers know their pitching has to perform well if they want to defend their title once again this year.
It certainly won't be easy, and the pitching just received what could be a major blow if Blake Snell isn't ready for opening day. However, Dodgers insider Katie Woo believes 24-year-old Roki Sasaki is the team's biggest wild card going into the upcoming season.
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"Entering the spring, Sasaki is the Dodgers’ biggest wild card," Woo wrote on Friday for The Athletic. "The 24-year-old missed the majority of his rookie season last year with a right shoulder injury, something he battled through in April before landing on the IL in mid-May. He was able to stage a comeback late in September, pitching out of the bullpen and logging valuable innings as the club’s de-facto closer in the postseason. However, the Dodgers have made it clear they view Sasaki as a starter. The test for him this season is to stay healthy and be more effective."
Sasaki's success last season during the playoff run helped provide him with a major confidence boost. The Japanese right-handed pitcher needed something to help himself after struggling for much of the season when he was healthy. It just so happened that Los Angeles didn't have a strong closer, so Sasaki was able to slide in with ease.
With a return to the rotation on the horizon and Edwin Diaz taking over the closer job, Sasaki now has to prove to everyone in the organization that they made the right decision to sign him. After posting a 4.46 ERA last year, he needs to take a major step forward.
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