The Los Angeles Dodgers implemented a strategic travel plan for their starting pitchers this week, notably delaying Roki Sasaki's arrival in Denver to lessen the impact of the city's high altitude. Sasaki, whose locker and jersey were ready, did not travel with the team for the start of their road series against the Colorado Rockies.
Instead, the right-hander remained in Los Angeles for two days before arriving in Denver on Tuesday night for his scheduled start on Wednesday at Coors Field. Manager Dave Roberts explained the decision, stating, "We just delayed his [travel] coming here to Denver. Just so it’s one less night here."
Sasaki was not the only Dodgers pitcher to deviate from traditional travel plans during the brief trip to Colorado. Pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tarik Skubal also stayed in California to prepare for their upcoming starts on Friday and Saturday, respectively, thereby avoiding any altitude-related adjustments. Blake Snell, who pitched on Monday night, returned to Los Angeles the following morning to limit his time in the mile-high environment before his next scheduled outing back home on Sunday.
Roberts acknowledged that these decisions were part of a broader effort to reduce the physical toll that Colorado's altitude can have on pitchers. The low-oxygen environment at Coors Field is known to cause quicker fatigue and necessitate longer recovery times, which can be particularly taxing on pitchers over multiple days.
Even position players can experience mounting exhaustion due to the altitude. Dodgers catcher Hunter Feduccia reportedly fell ill after catching consecutive games at Coors Field, though the team also noted the possibility of food poisoning. Roberts, while joking that he doesn't personally delve into the specific sports science data regarding altitude, confirmed that the team has personnel dedicated to analyzing such issues. This week's travel arrangements reflect the club's proactive approach to managing these environmental challenges for its players.