Roki Sasaki finally shed the doubts that shadowed his Dodgers debut, delivering a masterful six‑inning effort against the Angels on Friday. He retired the first 13 batters, allowing no hits through 4 1/3 innings and finished with a career‑high 10 strikeouts. The 1‑0 win came on Freddie Freeman’s sixth walk‑off homer, sealing the Dodgers’ narrow victory.

Roberts kept Sasaki in for a seventh inning to gauge his composure in a pressure‑free environment. The right‑hander struck out two more, showcasing a more aggressive approach that Roberts praised as “on the attack.” Sasaki’s fastball touched 100.4 mph, and his splitter now rides 90 mph, helping lower his season ERA to 4.03 after a rocky start.

Teammates rallied around the Japanese pitcher, noting his improved demeanor and confidence. Will Smith highlighted Sasaki’s “care factor,” while Freeman called his resurgence “fun to watch” after a year in the bullpen. With the Dodgers’ rotation stabilizing, Sasaki’s turnaround adds depth and could prove decisive as Los Angeles pursues another postseason run.

The performance also eases pressure on the Dodgers’ back end, which has relied heavily on veteran starters this season. If Sasaki maintains his current command and strikeout rate, he could solidify a spot in the five‑man rotation and give Los Angeles a reliable arm for both regular‑season battles and postseason depth.