The Los Angeles Dodgers will ask Roki Sasaki to stop their longest losing streak of the season when they open a crucial road series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Sasaki is scheduled to start Friday at Chase Field after Los Angeles announced its rotation for the three-game set. Yoshinobu Yamamoto will pitch Saturday, while Justin Wrobleski will remain in the rotation for Sunday despite surrendering eight home runs across his last two appearances.
The Dodgers enter Friday after being swept in consecutive series by the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs. Their six-game skid has reduced a once-commanding lead in the National League West and raised the stakes against second-place Arizona.
A day off on Thursday gives the Dodgers time to reset, but it also leaves the pressure squarely on Sasaki. A strong start would protect a taxed bullpen and give the lineup a chance to play from ahead after a draining week.
Roki Sasaki Gets First Chance to Stop Dodgers’ Slide
GettyRoki Sasaki #11 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws prior to the game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on August 03, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Sasaki gives Los Angeles a promising candidate to reverse its slide. The right-hander allowed two runs and struck out seven across 5.1 innings in a 6-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners on July 30, his most recent start.
He owns a 4.64 ERA with 101 strikeouts over 99 innings this season, according to Dodgers Nation. However, his only career appearance against Arizona produced five runs in five innings.
That history adds intrigue to Friday’s matchup. The Diamondbacks swept the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium from July 10-12 and have won the teams’ last four meetings. The season series is tied 5-5, making this weekend the deciding set between the division rivals.
Arizona entered Wednesday eight games behind Los Angeles and had won 15 of its previous 22 games. Another sweep could pull the Diamondbacks within five games and transform the NL West race.
Dodgers Stick With Justin Wrobleski After 8-Homer Stretch
GettyJustin Wrobleski #70 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after allowing a home run to Michael Busch #29 of the Chicago Cubs (not pictured) during the fifth inning at Wrigley Field on August 03, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Wrobleski’s Sunday assignment is the more surprising part of the rotation announcement. The left-hander has allowed four home runs in each of his last two starts, matching the eight he surrendered during the rest of his season.
He has yielded 12 earned runs over 10.1 innings during that stretch. Four of those homers and seven runs came Monday against the Cubs, who removed him after 4.1 innings in a 10-5 Dodgers loss, according to Reuters.
Those outings raised Wrobleski’s ERA from 2.62 to 3.31. Still, the Dodgers are giving the 26-year-old an opportunity to correct course rather than skipping his turn.
Wrobleski has previously succeeded against Arizona, throwing six scoreless innings in their last meeting. Yamamoto, meanwhile, gives Los Angeles its most dependable option Saturday with a 2.76 ERA and 121 strikeouts in 133.2 innings.
The Dodgers’ pitching plan is set. Now Sasaki must provide the first answer as Los Angeles tries to prevent a difficult week from becoming a genuine division race.
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