LOS ANGELES – A smarter, healthier and more experienced Roki Sasaki is closing in on a return to the Dodgers’ pitching staff by the start of September. Also up soon is a decision on how to use the right-hander.

Sasaki has been out since May with what the Dodgers called a shoulder impingement. Sasaki, who signed with Los Angeles out of Japan over the offseason, struggled through his first few appearances, going 1-1 with a 4.72 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP in eight games.

Roki Sasaki has finally started progressing in a throwing program, and could find himself in the mix for the Dodgers' postseason plans.