Dodgers on Deck: Thursday vs. Athletics

Today at 08:21

Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
A bullpen game is expected for the Dodgers in Thursday night’s series finale at Dodger Stadium.

The series finale between the Dodgers and A’s was originally lined up to be a start for Roki Sasaki, but the rookie right-hander was placed on the injured list Tuesday with a right shoulder impingement, with no timetable yet for his eventual return.

For Thursday’s series finale, the Dodgers will most likely use a bullpen game, and — depending on how Wednesday night goes — should have ample options to deploy.

Ben Casparius, who has outings of eight, nine, 11, and 12 outs this season plus three more two-inning appearances, pitched a relatively-modest 1⅓ innings on Sunday in Arizona. Matt Sauer, who had a four-inning save on May 7 and a five-inning win on April 29, plus outings of five, 3⅔, three, and three innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City this year, also had a short outing Sunday, throwing nine pitches in his one scoreless frame.

Both should be well rested enough to take care of a large portion of the at least 27 outs that will be required on Thursday.

Right-hander Osvaldo Bido starts for the A’s, having been fairly consistent so far this season. Bido has lasted at least five innings in all eight of his starts, but never more than 5⅔ innings. Bido has a 4.75 ERA and 4.73 xERA this season, with 27 strikeouts and 16 walks in 41⅔ innings.

Bido has faced the Dodgers in each of the previous two seasons. He allowed two runs in four innings while with the Pirates at Dodger Stadium on July 5, 2023, then allowed three runs (two earned) in six innings in a loss last August 4 in Oakland. Those six innings tied a career high for Bido, something the 29-year-old has done five times in 26 career