Sasaki goes from a once-injured project to a high-leverage savior

Roki Sasaki was literally the toast of the Dodgers. “Shot for Roki!” infielder Miguel Rojas screamed. Hooting and hollering, the players raised the little paper cups in their hands and emptied the contents into their mouths to celebrate the three perfect innings delivered by Sasaki in an I-inning, 2victory over the Philadelphia Phillies that secured their place in the National League Championship Series.

- DYLAN HERNANDEZ COLUMNIST

ROKI SASAKI delivered three much-needed scoreless innings of relief Thursday.

(ROBERT GAUTHIER Los Angeles Times)

The emergence of Sasaki as an October hero was as unexpected as his relief performances in the NL Division Series were electric.

How did this happen?

How could a newcomer who practically vanished when he went down with a shoulder impingement five months earlier become the team’s most dominant reliever?

How could a pitcher on whom the Dodgers had more or less given up produce what manager Dave Roberts described as “one of the great all-time appearances out of the pen”?

Sasaki can point to when he started down the road to postseason glory.

“The scene in the hotel,” Sasaki said in Japanese.

Sept. 8.

Sasaki was in a hotel room in Oklahoma City, preparing to pitch the next day for the Dodgers’ triple-A affiliate.

While eating, he watched videos of himself pitching for Ofunato High School. His signature high leg kick was the same then as it was now, but what he did in the next phase of his delivery wasn't.

Sasaki noticed that he used to be more explosive before landing his plant foot and releasing the baseball.

“This is it,” he said to himself.