Roki Sasaki: Everything you need to know

Sasaki (2-3) earned the win Sunday, allowing one run on four hits and no walks over seven innings against the Angels. He struck out eight. Sasaki turned in his best outing of the season, punching out a season-high eight batters while not issuing a walk in a start for the first time in his MLB career. Sunday could mark a key turning point for the talented right-hander, as he looked confident and in control with his revamped four-pitch mix. The 24-year-old will carry a 5.09 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 39:16 K:BB across 40.2 innings into his next outing, which is tentatively scheduled for Saturday against the Brewers.

Sasaki did not factor into the decision Monday, allowing three runs on six hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch over five innings against the Giants. He struck out five. After allowing a solo homer to Rafael Devers in the second inning, Sasaki settled in during the middle frames before being chased in the sixth, allowing two runs without recording an out in the frame. The right-hander's sophomore season hasn't gone according to plan thus far, as the 24-year-old has allowed three or more runs in five of his starts and completed six innings just once. He'll carry a 1-3 record with a 5.88 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 31:16 K:BB into his next start, tentatively scheduled for Sunday against the Angels.

Sasaki is no longer lined up to make a start during this weekend's series versus Atlanta and is now on track to make his next turn through the rotation Monday versus the Giants at Dodger Stadium, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports. Blake Snell's (shoulder) impending return from the 15-day injured list had been expected to put Sasaki at risk of being bumped from the Dodgers' six-man rotation, but the latter will end up keeping his spot at least temporarily after Los Angeles placed Tyler Glasnow (back) on the IL on Friday. However, with Snell set to be activated Saturday for his 2026 team debut and with Justin Wrobleski in line to start Sunday, Sasaki will end up being pushed back in the pitching schedule to Monday, when he'll be taking the hill on eight days' rest. Sasaki took a step forward in covering a season-high six innings in his last start May 2 against the Cardinals but has still been the clear weak link in the Los Angeles rotation with a 5.97 ERA and 1.67 WHIP over 28.2 frames on the campaign.