Roki Sasaki Guides Dodgers to 10-1 Victory Over Angels in Freeway Series Sweep

Roki Sasaki delivered his best major‑league start, pitching seven innings of one‑run ball and recording a career‑high eight strikeouts as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Angels 10‑1 in Anaheim, completing a three‑game sweep of the Freeway Series. Sasaki credited catcher Dalton Rushing for game‑calling and noted a new splitter grip that increased velocity and break, while his slider generated the most whiffs of any pitch that night. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised Sasaki’s confidence, saying the pitcher “has confidence in who he is as a big‑league pitcher.”

The win came amid a rotation strained by injuries—Blake Snell is on the 15‑day IL with elbow surgery, and other starters such as Tyler Glasnow and Edwin Diaz remain sidelined. Despite the setbacks, the Dodgers maintained a league‑best road record and entered the series with the NL West lead. The victory also highlighted the ongoing popularity of the crosstown rivalry, which routinely draws record television ratings and sell‑out crowds in Southern California.

Sasaki’s performance signals a potential turning point for the young Japanese import, who has struggled with consistency early this season. By diversifying his pitch mix and improving command, he appears poised to become a steady fixture in the Dodgers’ rotation moving forward.