Roki Sasaki has begun to turn things around at the right time for the Los Angeles Dodgers rotation.
Sasaki was credited with the win after the Dodgers’ 10-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday after producing a career-high eight strikeouts while allowing just four hits and one earned run in seven innings pitched.
The Japanese pitcher’s success comes at a good time for L.A.’s pitching staff. The Dodgers will be without Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell, who were both placed on the injury list earlier this month.
“(Sasaki) had command of the fastball, command of the split, forkball and mixed in the slider when needed,” Dave Roberts told reporters after the game.
Sakaki deferred some of the credit for his dominant outing to catcher Dalton Rushing.
“I think Rushing did a great job calling a game with the pitch selection,” Sasaki said to reporters through a translator.
Entering the weekend, Sakaki had a 5.88 ERA with 31 strikeouts across 33.2 innings pitched in his first seven starts of the season.
The right-hander came into his own and played a key role for the Dodgers during the 2025 postseason after spending some time in the bullpen last season.
Watch Roki Sasaki throw eight strikeouts vs. Angels
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki produces career outing vs. Angels
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