<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-roki-sasaki-revelation-signing-blue-jays');   ga('set', 'title', 'Roki Sasaki’s revelation about almost signing with Blue Jays will catch fans’ attention');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Dodgers-pitcher-Roki-Sasaki-1.jpg"><figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Roki Sasaki’s revelation about almost signing with Blue Jays will catch fans’ attention</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-24T10:35:08-07:00">October 24th, 10:35am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-24T10:35:08-07:00">October 24th, 10:35am</time><address><a>Zachary Draves</a>Zachary Draves is a sportswriter and broadcaster based in the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. Zachary covers a variety of different sports as well as sports history, sport and society, and sport and culture. He is also a professor of sociology.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Dodgers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Los Angeles Dodgers punched their ticket to the World Series thanks to closer Roki Sasaki <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-fans-erupt-shohei-ohtani-roki-sasaki-world-series">sealing the deal</a>. It is a good thing because had things been different, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/toronto-blue-jays/blue-jays-news-toronto-roki-sasaki-recruitment-meeting-vladimir-guerrero-jr">Sasaki would have led the Blue Jays</a> to the World Series.</p><p>As the Dodgers prepare to face the Blue Jays in the Fall Classic, Sasaki <a href="https://x.com/MitchBannon/status/1981538678796087663" rel="noopener">recently said</a> that he was “definitely” close to signing with Toronto, per Mitch Bannon of The Athletic.</p><p>Essentially, Sasaki was “strongly considering” the Blue Jays, but in January <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-roki-sasaki-announces-signing-dodgers-amid-blue-jays-interest">Sasaki signed with the Dodgers</a>. Prior to that, Sasaki had played for the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Nippon Professional Baseball in his native Japan.</p><p>“It’s actually really hard to express why I eventually chose the Dodgers” he said. During the season, Sasaki finished with a record of 1-1 with a 4.46 ERA and 28 strikeouts. In the postseason, he pitched in seven games and has three saves.</p><p>Against the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLCS, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-roki-sasaki-makes-mlb-history-with-seamless-transition-to-dodgers-closer-role">Sasaki made history</a> by becoming the first closer to achieve a save in his first three playoff starts. It was in 1969 that baseball began to record saves.</p><p>Now the Dodgers are looking to repeat as World Series champions. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays are looking to win their first title since 1993.</p><h2><b>Roki Sasaki is part of an exceptional trifecta among the Dodgers</b></h2><p>Sasaki is part of a Dodgers organization that includes two fellow Japanese superstars. They are Shohei Othani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Each of whom made a name for themselves while playing in Japan and have continued that run of excellence into MLB.</p><p>Obviously, Ohtani is a generational talent for his dual threat as a dynamite pitcher and powerful hitter. Meanwhile, Yamamoto has emerged as one of the staff aces who is slated to start Game 2 of the World Series.</p><p>All of which can help the Dodgers down the path to back-to-back championships.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Roki Sasaki’s revelation about almost signing with Blue Jays will catch fans’ attention

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-fans-erupt-shohei-ohtani-roki-sasaki-world-series');   ga('set', 'title', 'Dodgers fans lose it after Shohei Ohtani, Roki Sasaki punch ticket to World Series');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Dodgers-pitcher-Roki-Sasaki-celebrates-with-teammates-after-winning-NLCS.jpg"><figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Dodgers fans lose it after Shohei Ohtani, Roki Sasaki punch ticket to World Series</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-18T06:26:25-07:00">October 18th, 6:26am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-18T06:26:25-07:00">October 18th, 6:26am</time><address><a>Yasmin Edañol</a>Yasmin D.G. Edañol is a PhD candidate in Chemistry at the University of the Philippines Diliman, with a background in scientific research and publishing. He brings a data-driven perspective to sports storytelling as an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints, with a focus on the NBA. Whether it's breaking down a clutch play or a stat line, he believes every great moment has a deeper layer waiting to be uncovered.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Dodgers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-dave-roberts-vows-ruin-baseball-world-series">Los Angeles Dodgers are bound for the World Series after a dominant NLCS sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers</a>. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-shohei-ohtani-wins-nlcs-mvp-insane-game-4-performance">Shohei Ohtani crushed three home runs in three at-bats, with ten strikeouts</a>, while <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-roki-sasaki-could-accomplish-career-first-game-4-brewers">Roki Sasaki served as the shutdown closer to finish off the Brewers</a>. That combo <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1979387173247029569" rel="noopener">fired up fans</a> everywhere.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Dodgers COMPLETE the SWEEP to defeat the Brewers and advance to the World Series 🧹</p><p>Shohei Ohtani:<br>3/3<br>3 HR<br>10 K</p><p>Will Smith:<br>2/4<br>1 R <a href="https://t.co/kvrElfYgJc">pic.twitter.com/kvrElfYgJc</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1979387173247029569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>A fan <a href="https://x.com/RealEDM__/status/1979387694309609990" rel="noopener">likened</a> the Dodgers’ return to the World Series to destiny, and after what Shohei Ohtani just did, it’s hard to argue. Another fan <a href="https://x.com/nasucapital/status/1979452655924842735" rel="noopener">praised</a> that Sasaki’s adaptability. And for good measure, one fan even used the four-headed King Ghidorah <a href="https://x.com/givemesometopps/status/1979388214134870097" rel="noopener">meme</a> to describe the Dodgers’ dominant pitching staff.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Dodgers starting pitchers <a href="https://t.co/RGt4qwa4ma">pic.twitter.com/RGt4qwa4ma</a></p><p>— Cards_are_awesome (@givemesometopps) <a href="https://twitter.com/givemesometopps/status/1979388214134870097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>From the very start, Ohtani was otherworldly. He homered in the first, fourth, and seventh innings, powering Los Angeles to a massive early lead. On the mound, he struck out batters with ruthless efficiency, setting the tone for the rest of the night. As the game progressed, the bullpen took over seamlessly. In the late innings, Roki Sasaki came in and slammed the door, preserving the sweep and officially punching the Dodgers’ ticket to the Fall Classic.</p><p>In Game 4, Ohtani delivered six scoreless innings, allowing just two hits before handing things off. Then, relievers Alex Vesia, Blake Treinen, Anthony Banda, and finally Sasaki, finished the job. Although the Brewers managed a single run in the eighth, it was never enough. The final score, 5–1, perfectly reflected the Dodgers’ balance between offense and pitching, a blend few teams can match.</p><p>Meanwhile, catcher Will Smith quietly added consistency, going 2-for-4 and scoring once. But when the dust settled, the spotlight still belonged to Ohtani and Sasaki. Fans flooded social media with praise, calling Ohtani “the greatest postseason force in years,” while Sasaki’s calm demeanor drew comparisons to legendary closers. Together, they turned a routine win into a defining moment.</p><p>Dodger Stadium erupted as the final out landed. Fans from Los Angeles to Tokyo filled the air with chants, cheers, and tears. The NLCS sweep didn’t just show dominance, it fulfilled destiny. Now, as the Dodgers await their World Series opponent, one truth echoes louder than ever: with Ohtani’s fire and Sasaki’s ice, nothing feels out of reach.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Dodgers fans lose it after Shohei Ohtani, Roki Sasaki punch ticket to World Series

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-roki-sasaki-could-accomplish-career-first-game-4-brewers');   ga('set', 'title', 'Dodgers’ Roki Sasaki could accomplish career-first in Game 4 vs. Brewers');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Roki-Sasaki-4.jpg"><figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.</figcaption></figure><h1>Dodgers’ Roki Sasaki could accomplish career-first in Game 4 vs. Brewers</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-17T15:58:47-07:00">October 17th, 3:58pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-17T16:14:35-07:00">October 17th, 4:14pm</time><address><a>Abdullah Imran</a>Abdullah Imran works as an Associate Editor for All Sports at ClutchPoints. He’s been a sports fan his entire life and enjoys writing about every sport. He has spent three years in sports journalism and loves analyzing games. In his free time, he very much enjoys binge-watching shows and playing video games.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Dodgers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-rock-bottom-moment-surge-brink-world-series">Los Angeles Dodgers stand on the verge of advancing to the World Series once again</a>, leading the Milwaukee Brewers 3-0 in the National League Championship Series.</p><p>Ahead of Game 4 at Dodger Stadium, manager Dave Roberts confirmed that rookie closer Roki Sasaki will be ready out of the bullpen Friday night. Having thrown 13 pitches the night before, the 23-year-old Japanese right-hander <a href="https://x.com/FabianArdaya/status/1979293932526932053" rel="noopener">could pitch on back-to-back days</a> for the first time in his career (h/t Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic).</p><p>Los Angeles’ pitching excellence has led the way this postseason, allowing just three runs across the first three NLCS games. Their latest win, a 3-1 victory on Thursday night, showcased their growing bullpen depth. Starter Tyler Glasnow limited Milwaukee to three hits and one run while striking out eight over 5.2 innings. The bullpen, anchored by Alex Vesia, Blake Treinen, Anthony Banda, and Sasaki, locked down the final 3.1 innings without allowing another run. Sasaki concluded the contest with a scoreless ninth, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-roki-sasaki-makes-mlb-history-with-seamless-transition-to-dodgers-closer-role">his third save this postseason</a>.</p><p>Sasaki has taken control of the closer role for Los Angeles, pitching in six games, finishing four, and collecting three saves. He’s surrendered just two hits and one run over seven innings while striking out six for a 1.29 ERA.</p><p>The Los Angeles bullpen was one of the team’s biggest uncertainties entering October, but a defined late-inning structure has emerged. Vesia and Treinen shoulder the setup work, while Sasaki, a converted starter whose fastball touches 100 mph, controls the ninth inning. Even without high-priced relievers Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates on the active roster, the Dodgers have found stability at the back end of games.</p><p>Sasaki’s emergence has made him a fan favorite at Dodger Stadium, where chants of “Ro-ki” now echo each time he takes the mound. With Shohei Ohtani starting opposite the Brewers, Jose Quintana in Game 4, Sasaki could once again find himself with the ball in the ninth, and the chance to both make his first-ever back-to-back appearance and send Los Angeles to the World Series once more.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Dodgers’ Roki Sasaki could accomplish career-first in Game 4 vs. Brewers

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-roki-sasaki-makes-mlb-history-with-seamless-transition-to-dodgers-closer-role');   ga('set', 'title', 'Roki Sasaki makes MLB history with seamless transition to Dodgers closer role');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Roki-Sasaki-celebrating.jpg"><figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Roki Sasaki makes MLB history with seamless transition to Dodgers closer role</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-16T20:56:15-07:00">October 16th, 8:56pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-16T20:56:15-07:00">October 16th, 8:56pm</time><address><a>Lorenzo J Reyna</a>Lorenzo J Reyna is an Associate Editor covering the NFL and NCAA Football for ClutchPoints. He's equipped with past experience for both realms through his recent stops at Pro Football Network and Heavy while also writing for 247Sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Dodgers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Los Angeles Dodgers have witnessed history twice from Roki Sasaki during the MLB Playoffs. But he hit a new accolade in the Game 3 win Thursday over the Milwaukee Brewers during the National League Championship Series (NLCS).</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-roki-sasaki-makes-japanese-pitching-history-untouched-even-by-shohei-ohtani">One week after joining Shohei Ohtani in Japanese history</a>, Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times <a href="https://x.com/BillShaikin/status/1979005144197910770" rel="noopener">revealed the new mark the rookie hit</a>.</p><p>“Roki Sasaki: first pitcher since saves became official in 1969 to earn each of his first three career saves in the postseason,” Shaikin posted on the social media website X, formerly Twitter.</p><p>Sasaki continues to prove his impact on the mound. Even on a day <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-mookie-betts-goes-full-derek-jeter-to-help-dodgers-close-out-game-3">when a Mookie Betts highlight</a> became the talk of the Thursday 3-1 victory. Still, manager Dave Roberts continues to prove placing Sasaki as a closer became a genius move.</p><h2>Pitches Roki Sasaki threw in Game 3 during Dodgers-Brewers</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Roki-Sasaki-on-hill.jpg"><figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The right hander brought out his gold glove and array of hit to close out the third victory of this series.</p><p>Sasaki went after Andrew Vaughn with a sinker and four-seam fastball. Vaughn let both throws land outside the strike zone. But Sasaki forced Vaughn to ground out to Betts after throwing his 96 mph sinker — which witnessed the Betts jump throw.</p><p>Sasaki then fired three fastballs at speeds of 98 and 99 against Sal Frelick. He popped out toward the shortstop area on the third fastball.</p><p>Caleb Durbin became the final batter to swing-and-miss facing Sasaki on the hill. Sasaki flung back-to-back 86 mph splitters to create the final strikeout.</p><p>Sasaki didn’t allow a hit on 13 total pitches. His closing presence has impacted this NLCS run in L.A. — and now he continues to hit historic marks.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Roki Sasaki makes MLB history with seamless transition to Dodgers closer role

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-dave-roberts-shares-eye-opening-take-roki-sasaki-growth');   ga('set', 'title', 'Dodgers’ Dave Roberts shares eye-opening take on Roki Sasaki’s growth');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20251013_hlf_ma9_070.jpg"><figcaption>Michael McLoone-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Dodgers’ Dave Roberts shares eye-opening take on Roki Sasaki’s growth</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-16T20:45:04-07:00">October 16th, 8:45pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-16T20:45:04-07:00">October 16th, 8:45pm</time><address><a>Richard Pereira</a>Richard Pereira joined ClutchPoints in January 2025 as an Associate Editor. He earned his degree from Florida Atlantic University in 2023 and has been covering the school's athletic programs since 2020, having served as a Sports Editor at the FAU University Press. He was granted the unique opportunity to report on the men's basketball team's journey to the Final Four in Houston for FAU Owls Nest during March Madness, consistently striving to grow as a sports journalist.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Dodgers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Dave Roberts had high remarks for relieving pitcher Roki Sasaki following the Los Angeles <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-la-puts-brewers-3-0-hole-historic-mlb-postseason-feat">Dodgers’ 3-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers</a> in Game 3 of the NL Championship Series on Thursday night.</p><p>Going into the game, Los Angeles had a 2-0 series lead. They have done a great job at containing Milwaukee’s offense while making sure their own attack was producing in key moments. Closing out these matchups has been Sasaki’s responsibility, something that he has done at a remarkably high level. That much was the case after he closed out Milwaukee to give his team the 3-0 series lead.</p><p>Roberts <a href="https://x.com/DodgersNation/status/1978998564010496087" rel="noopener">reflected on the win</a> after the game, per media outlet Dodgers Nation. He praised the pitcher for how much he has grown throughout the 2025 MLB season, making big plays at the right time for the Dodgers.</p><p>“His growth has been certainly not linear. At that point in time when he was scuffling on the bench, for him to put himself back on the radar speaks to his fight,” Roberts said.</p><h2><b>How Dave Roberts, Dodgers performed against Brewers</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20251016_lbm_aj4_118.jpg"><figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Dave Roberts is right to praise Roki Sasaki, who is helping the Dodgers be one win away from advancing to the World Series.</p><p>All three games have seen Los Angeles limit Milwaukee to one run per contest throughout the series so far. It has been a statement from the fielding and bullpen to prevent their opponents from reaching home plater more than once in a matchup, proving to be crucial.</p><p>Mookie Betts opened the scoring in the first inning with an RBI double. Milwaukee tied the game in the second frame with an RBI single from Jake Bauers. The Dodgers fired back in the sixth inning, seeing Tommy Edman and Freddie Freeman deliver the game-winning runs for their team.</p><p>The Los Angeles bullpen was excellent at continuing to keep Milwaukee’s attack quiet. They only conceded four hits throughout their 31 at-bats, being unable to create a spark for a potential run. Tyler Glasnow started on the mound as he lasted 5.2 innings, striking out eight batters while giving up three hits and a run. Meanwhile, Alex Vesia earned the win and Sasaki obtained the save for his third of the postseason.</p><p>The Dodgers will look to finish off the Brewers in Game 4 of the NLCS to punch their World Series ticket. The contest will take place on Oct. 17 at 8:38 p.m. ET.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2025 SEASON STATS
IP	ERA	K	WHIP	WINS
21	0.00	7	0.86	1

2025 SEASON STATS
IP	ERA	K	WHIP	WINS
21	0.00	7	0.86	1

Roki Sasaki

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