The team that the Dodgers have this year, especially their starting pitching rotation, can make any manager confident of winning the World Series, including Sasaki, along with his compatriots Ohtani and Yamamoto. In addition to Kirby Yates, Blake Snell and Tanner Scott, and the expected return of Clayton Kershaw.

If any other hitter were coming back from a shoulder operation, there would be concerns. If any other pitcher were returning from a season-long absence spent recovering