Roki Sasaki delivered his strongest performance of the season against the Los Angeles Angels, recording a career-high 10 strikeouts across seven scoreless innings. The dominant outing extended his sharp turnaround and provided another encouraging sign for the Dodgers' rotation.

What happened

Sasaki limited the Angels to two hits and two walks while completing seven innings without allowing a run. He threw 72 of his 98 pitches for strikes, combining swing-and-miss ability with the command needed to work deep into the game.

The right-hander also continued to show increased velocity. Sasaki has reached 100 mph four times across his past two starts after hitting that mark only once previously in an MLB start, a notable development for a pitcher whose early-season results raised questions.

Why it matters

The performance strengthened the Dodgers' rotation outlook and reinforced the progress Sasaki has made since the beginning of May. His improving velocity has now been accompanied by sustained run prevention, suggesting his early-season struggles may be receding rather than defining his 2026 campaign.

For Roki Sasaki, the combination of strikeouts, efficiency and workload was particularly significant. Reaching seven innings on 98 pitches showed that his latest step forward involved more than raw velocity, with 72 strikes reflecting the command behind the scoreless outing.

By the numbers

Sasaki has posted a 2.55 ERA since the start of May, a stretch that illustrates how sharply his results have improved. His latest start added seven scoreless innings to that run while setting a new career high with 10 strikeouts.

He has been especially effective against the Angels in 2026. Sasaki recorded 18 strikeouts over 14 innings across two starts against Los Angeles, consistently missing bats while limiting damage.

The velocity trend provides another important marker. After reaching 100 mph only once in his previous MLB starts, Sasaki has done so four times over his past two outings, giving the Dodgers evidence that his premium fastball may be returning as a reliable weapon.

What to watch next

The next test is whether Sasaki can sustain both the triple-digit velocity and the command that drove this performance. Another start featuring consistent strikes, limited traffic and upper-end fastball speed would further establish that his turnaround has staying power.