ATLANTA –– Roki Sasaki’s second-half resurgence came to a screeching halt Wednesday night.

In the fourth inning of the Dodgers’ eventual 6-5 walk-off loss against the Atlanta Braves, Sasaki made an early exit from his start after developing a blister on his right middle finger.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) delivers to an Atlanta Braves batter during the first inning of a baseball game on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, in Atlanta. (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser

Afterward, manager Dave Roberts said Sasaki was expected to be placed on the injured list.

“It was a pretty good blister. It just came out of nowhere,” he said. “I think that there’s just no way we can avoid it given the severity of the blister. So we’ll give him some time.”

Sasaki hadn’t shown any signs of distress over the first three innings of Wednesday’s game, when he allowed a run in the first before retiring seven of his next nine batters. But in the fourth, he issued a leadoff walk, then a single, a run-scoring sacrifice fly and a double, prompting a visit from pitching coach Mark Prior and interpreter Will Ireton.

Unbeknownst in the dugout, a blister had formed on Sasaki’s pitching hand during the first batter of the inning.

“My skin just ripped off,” he said through an interpreter. “And after that, it kinda [got] worse.”

Indeed, after a few moments, Prior motioned to the dugout for head athletic trainer Thomas Albert. Roberts also made his way to the mound, where another brief discussion ensued, before the 24-year-old phenom ultimately departed from the game.

“I don’t think he’s dealt with any blister issues [previously this year],” Roberts said. “So for it to kind of come out of nowhere was a surprise to all of us.”

The good news: Roberts said the Dodgers can cover Sasaki’s blister while he’s on the IL, in order to keep his arm moving and allow for an immediate return once it is healed.

The bad news: It derails what had been a standout second half from Sasaki, who entered Wednesday with a 2.31 ERA over six starts since the All-Star break, and will force some shuffling among the Dodgers’ pitching staff.

Roki Sasaki #11 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. (2026 Getty Images) Getty Images

For now, Eric Lauer (who had been pushed to the bullpen recently, and pitched a couple innings after Sasaki’s exit in Wednesday’s loss) is expected to replace Sasaki in the rotation the next turn through.

“It’s more disappointing with Roki because he has been so consistently good,” Roberts said. “So now, unfortunately, it’s going to be minimum two weeks.”