Roki Sasaki Hits the IL with a Blister Because the Dodgers' Rotation is Officially Cursed

The Los Angeles Dodgers are placing Roki Sasaki on the 15-day injured list with a right middle finger blister, proving once again that pitching for this franchise comes with a mandatory medical deductible. MLB Trade Rumors relayed the news early Thursday morning, confirming what everyone watching Wednesday's game already feared.

Sasaki got chased out of his August 26 start against the Atlanta Braves after just 3 1/3 innings, surrendering four runs on six hits before the blister forced him off the mound. Now, he is expected to be sidelined until mid-September. If you are holding a Dodgers World Series ticket, it might be time to start checking the fine print on your blood pressure medication.

"MLB Trade Rumors reported the Dodgers are placing Sasaki on the injured list."

The 24-year-old phenom has been a mixed bag this season, posting a 5-5 record with a 4.42 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP over 116 innings. Those numbers are fine for a middle-of-the-rotation arm, but they do not exactly scream generational ace. Still, he has racked up 114 strikeouts, and losing him right as the calendar flips to September is a brutal blow for a team that desperately needs reliable innings.

This is just the latest chapter in the Dodgers' ongoing medical drama. Sasaki missed four months last year with a shoulder impingement, so a blister feels like a minor inconvenience by comparison. But when you look at the rest of the Los Angeles roster, it reads like a triage unit. Shohei Ohtani is dealing with knee inflammation, Will Smith has a bad neck, and half the bullpen is throwing simulated games just to remember what a baseball feels like.

The Dodgers now have to patch together a rotation for their upcoming weekend series on the road against the Detroit Tigers. Sasaki should be back before the playoffs, but this team is running out of healthy arms to get them to October. Until then, the front office might need to start asking fans in the bleachers if they know how to throw a decent slider.