Before Friday night's game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Baltimore Orioles, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Shohei Ohtani would not be in the starting lineup due to paternity leave. Ohtani was absent as he and his wife, Mamiko, welcomed their second child, a development they shared on Instagram without disclosing the baby's name or gender. The star player was expected to return to action Saturday night.

Ohtani, who has been a dominant force for the Dodgers this season, holds the second-highest OPS in the National League at .963, trailing only the Mets' Juan Soto. At the plate, he has tallied 15 home runs and 42 RBIs with a .296 batting average. On the mound, the right-hander boasts a 7-2 record with a 1.47 ERA. Although his innings pitched (73 2/3) do not qualify him for the ERA title, only Milwaukee Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski has recorded a lower ERA among pitchers with at least 70 innings this season.

Meanwhile, Roki Sasaki showed signs of resurgence in Friday’s game after a difficult outing last week. The Japanese right-hander delivered five scoreless innings against the Orioles at Dodger Stadium before surrendering back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning that erased a three-run lead and led to his removal. The Dodgers rallied with three runs in the ninth to secure a 6-5 victory.

Roberts praised Sasaki’s competitive effort, noting improvement in his command of off-speed pitches, specifically the splitter and slider. Sasaki emphasized his focus on refining his breaking balls and relied heavily on his fastball, which averaged close to 99 mph and reached 100 mph or more five times during the outing. His ability to throw fastballs down the middle of the plate without significant damage allowed him to efficiently retire batters and accumulate six strikeouts.

Despite his overall strong performance, Sasaki regretted a sixth-inning splitter that was hit for a two-run homer by Gunnar Henderson. He also conceded a home run to Pete Alonso on a fastball that he considered well-placed but ultimately poorly timed in terms of pitch selection. Following the game, Sasaki acknowledged his need to improve approach and decision-making during later innings, especially when facing batters for the third time.

The 22-year-old right-hander has shown a noticeable change in demeanor this season, appearing more confident and relaxed than in previous months. After the game, Sasaki lightheartedly discussed Japan’s upcoming World Cup match, revealing a less serious, more personable side that was glimpsed last postseason. Having closed games in the 2025 playoffs, Sasaki’s growing confidence could translate into a more prominent role as a starter for the Dodgers this year, particularly if depth issues arise in the pitching staff.

While the Dodgers currently count on starters like Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow—expected back soon—Sasaki remains a viable option to contribute in October. The team’s plans may also depend on whether they make any acquisitions, such as Tarik Skubal, before the midseason trade deadline.