Dodgers' Roki Sasaki Nears Injury Return After Shoulder Recovery

Los Angeles Dodgers rookie pitcher Roki Sasaki, who was a highly anticipated signing from Japan, has been sidelined with a right shoulder impingement after a challenging start to his MLB career, posting a 4.72 ERA with control issues over eight starts. Manager Dave Roberts has recently provided a more optimistic update, noting that Sasaki is pain-free, has begun light throwing, and is showing signs of recovery, though no firm timeline for his return has been set. Sasaki will remain in Los Angeles to continue his rehabilitation, likely involving a stint in the minor leagues before rejoining the main roster, with a potential return projected for late August. Despite his struggles and injury, the Dodgers remain confident in his potential and are focused on improving his overall strength and conditioning during recovery. The team's optimism is further buoyed by the imminent returns of other key pitchers, Blake Treinen and Blake Snell, both of whom are close to rejoining the roster after their own injury setbacks. This wave of positive injury updates brings renewed hope to the Dodgers as they look to solidify their pitching staff for the remainder of the season.