Roki Sasaki told reporters he is “pain-free” on Tuesday in his first press conference since mid-May. He threw a bullpen session on Tuesday before the Los Angeles Dodgers’ game against the St. Louis Cardinals and his velocity reached 96 mph.

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Even without Sasaki, the Dodgers already have six starters in their rotation. Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow returned from the injured list last month, and two-way player Shohei Ohtani has become a regular starter.

That leaves some people wondering if Los Angeles would convert Sasaki into a reliever for their bullpen when he returns. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the Dodgers view him as a starter but that could change later in the season.

“Obviously, he is a starter; we see him as that,” Roberts said. “You just don’t know what’s gonna happen with starting pitching. So I think right now, it’s just more of continuing to build him up, see how it looks, and then if there’s a different conversation that needs to be had later …

“But right now, we see him as a starter,” Roberts said.

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Sasaki has primarily been a starting pitcher in both MLB and Nippon Professional Baseball. The right-handed rookie said he is focusing on his ability to get batters out rather than his role in the pitching staff.

“Regardless of my role, I’m just out there, just making sure that I am able to compete and make sure I get major league hitters out,” Sasaki said Tuesday through interpreter Will Ireton.

“So it’s really not up to me to determine what my role is. My job is to make sure I get big league hitters out,” Sasaki added.

The Dodgers are managing several injuries in their bullpen and only acquired one new reliever at the trade deadline. Former Minnesota Twins reliever Brock Stewart has allowed six hits and two runs while striking out two batters across 2.2 innings in his first three appearances with Los Angeles.

The Dodgers rely heavily on their relievers and could use some more help. But for now, Los Angeles is planning to keep Sasaki in the rotation when he returns.

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Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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