Roki Sasaki provided an update on his shoulder injury recovery, stating he reached 96 mph in a bullpen session without pain. However, he is awaiting game conditions to assess his pitching mechanics against live hitters. Having transitioned from Nippon Professional Baseball, where he had significant success, he has faced challenges in Major League Baseball, struggling with his performance in initial starts. Sasaki mentioned the different approaches of American hitters requiring adjustments in his pitching strategy. The Dodgers are preparing for his potential return in late August or early September by scheduling a simulated game.
"I feel better about being able to throw harder, especially because I'm pain-free. With that being said, I do have to face live hitters and see how my mechanics hold and be able to do that consistently."
"American hitters have a different approach at the plate compared to Japanese hitters, so I can't really attack the way that I used to in Japan. They have different strengths and weaknesses."
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