Snell's sudden injury and early exit disrupted the Dodgers' plans for using Roki Sasaki.

Despite seeing Roki Sasaki finish the last step of his blister rehab on Thursday, Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts remained uncertain about the team's usage of the 24-year-old phenom with a blazing fastball.

All season long, Roki Sasaki seemed destined to return to the Dodgers' bullpen at the end of the season, reprising the role of pitching in high-leverage late innings that he unexpectedly took on as a rookie last October.

Although he turned a corner as a starter in the second half of this season, posting a 2.31 ERA in his first six starts after the All-Star break, he had long appeared to be an extra piece in the Dodgers' rotation, a pitcher behind the four superstar aces the team lined up for this fall's World Series push.

However, after a four-inning, 48-pitch live batting practice session in Cincinnati on Thursday, Roberts remained noncommittal about Sasaki's plan. Originally, this was expected to be the final step before he was activated from the injured list.

On one hand, Roberts noted that the Dodgers could move Sasaki to the bullpen right now, giving him time to readjust to the relief role and focus on pitching shorter outings.

But on the other hand, "Some might say it's better to let him start a few games to maintain his workload buildup," Roberts countered, "because if something happens, he's ready."

A few hours later, the "something" Roberts worried about may have suddenly occurred. Blake Snell's groin injury directly impacted Sasaki's potential role.

In Thursday's game, Snell left after just one inning due to left groin tightness. Although he hopes to avoid a serious injury, he has dealt with groin issues multiple times in the past, each time missing up to a month.

If this situation is similar, Roki Sasaki would be the first choice to replace Snell in the Dodgers' postseason rotation.

Coupled with another starter Tyler Glasnow's uncertainty after pitching four innings in Miami last weekend — he notably returned to Los Angeles immediately after the game to reduce extra travel on this road trip — Sasaki now looks like a valuable starter insurance policy that the Dodgers may still need to use in the postseason.

That's also why, after Thursday's game, Roberts could at least give a clear statement about the plan for Sasaki after his activation from the injured list, confirming that he will likely start a game sometime next week, perhaps during the San Diego Padres' visit.

Ideally, that would be Sasaki's last start of the year, with other healthy rotation arms allowing the Dodgers to move him to a bullpen that is also depleted by injuries.

But for now, the team can't be sure of anything.

That means all options remain on the table regarding Roki Sasaki.