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Manager Dave Roberts indicated that pitcher Roki Sasaki will likely remain sidelined until the Dodgers’ next homestand, while reliever Edwin Díaz‘s rehab assignment has been extended beyond an initial Miami return date, per staff at Dodger Blue. The updates signal continued caution from the Dodgers medical staff regarding their recovering pitchers’ readiness heading into the final stretch of the regular season.

Sasaki has been a significant piece of the Dodgers’ rotation when healthy, providing premium stuff and reliability in a pitching staff that has been compromised by multiple injuries. His 15-day IL stint was originally targeted for a possible return during the Miami road trip, but Roberts’ comments suggest the organization is taking a more conservative approach to his recovery. That caution makes sense. There’s no value in rushing a talented young pitcher back if he’s not fully ready, only to see him aggravate the injury and miss October. The Dodgers are betting that an extra week of rest and recovery gets Sasaki truly healthy for October baseball rather than marginally available down the stretch. For Sasaki personally, this delay must be frustrating. He wants to contribute. He wants to be in the conversation as a postseason option. But the organization’s willingness to hold him back—even when the team is competing for positioning—shows that long-term health is being prioritized over short-term roster needs. That’s the right call organizationally, even if it’s psychologically difficult for a competitor.

Díaz, the Dominican reliever, is working back from his own injury situation. His rehab assignment extension suggests the Dodgers aren’t satisfied with his recovery progress yet. Roberts’ original indication that Díaz might return for the series finale in Miami proved premature. The fact that his rehab is now being extended signals the organization wants to see more consistent performance at the minor league level before bringing him back to major league action. For Díaz, this is a professional moment—the patience to fully recover now prevents the risk of re-injury that could sideline him entirely. Reliever depth is critical for October, and the Dodgers are taking their time with Díaz’s return to ensure he’s genuinely ready.

For the Dodgers, the pitching timeline creates both challenge and opportunity. Challenge: we’re already thin on rotation depth with Eric Lauer on the 60-day IL, and losing Sasaki until the homestand compresses our availability even further. The organization needs to navigate the final week of this road trip with the rotation it currently has operational. That’s not an ideal scenario with October approaching. Opportunity: having Sasaki, Díaz, and other recovering arms potentially healthy for October means the back end of the rotation gets deeper exactly when depth matters most. Roberts’ conservative approach suggests the organization believes October health is more valuable than September positioning. Given the current eight-game winning streak, that’s probably a justified calculation. We’re winning anyway. Why push recovering arms when rest gets them healthier for when it matters most?

Source(s): Staff (Dodger Blue) | First reported: September 12, 2026 2:10 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers