The Los Angeles Dodgers are on the verge of a major rotation shakeup, and it couldn't come at a better time. After missing the entire season so far, two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell is finally nearing his return, and his arrival could spell a critical change for struggling second-year pitcher Roki Sasaki.
Snell is wrapping up his rehab assignment, with his fourth and final start scheduled for this Saturday with the Ontario Tower Buzzers. Dodgers beat writer Adrian Medina confirmed the update, signaling that Snell could rejoin the big league club within the next week.
While Snell's return is a massive boost for Los Angeles, it creates an uncomfortable reality for Sasaki. The young right-hander has stumbled out of the gate in 2026, posting a 1-3 record with an ERA hovering near 6.00. These struggles mirror the inconsistency that sent him to Triple-A for extended stretches last season. It wasn't until a late-season bullpen role that Sasaki found his footing and earned a postseason spot in 2025.
"While some fans are being way too harsh on Sasaki, it's undeniably troublesome to see the right-hander getting off to another rough start," wrote Colin Keane of Dodgers Way. "In 2025, Sasaki's rookie season, his struggles out of the gate were such that he was ultimately removed from the Dodgers' pitching plan entirely. Injuries played a role, but Sasaki's temperament was also called into question."
With Snell sliding back into the rotation, available starting spots are shrinking. And Sasaki simply hasn't outperformed left-hander Justin Wrobleski, who remains undefeated this season. A demotion doesn't necessarily mean a ticket back to Triple-A, however. The Dodgers could shift Sasaki to the bullpen, a role where he thrived during key stretches last year.
Once Snell is back, the Dodgers' rotation could feature Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani, Emmet Sheehan, Wrobleski, and Snell — a formidable five that leaves little room for a struggling Sasaki to find his rhythm as a starter.
For Sasaki, the path forward is clear: either a complete reset or a return to the bullpen. Either way, change is coming to Chavez Ravine.