(Photo credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images)

With increased confidence, not to mention a new pitch, Roki Sasaki has turned himself into a dependable starter for the Los Angeles Dodgers and can continue his breakout season in an outing against the visiting Los Angeles Angels on Friday.

A right shoulder injury reduced Sasaki to 10 appearances and 36 1/3 innings as a rookie last season, but back for the postseason, the right-hander proved to be a valuable bullpen piece in the team's run to its second consecutive World Series title.

His start to this season was a bit rocky until he introduced a splitter in late April that has led to a 3.18 ERA over his past five starts. Sasaki (3-3, 4.59 ERA) will enter the opener of the three-game series off of a solid start against the Philadelphia Phillies last week when he gave up one run on three hits over 5 1/3 innings. He took no decision in the 4-3 loss.

'I think there will always be new challenges as I keep pitching,' Sasaki said through an interpreter. 'But I've learned a lot along the way, and those experiences become tools I can draw from when things aren't going well. I believe everything was a necessary part of the process.'

While Japanese countrymen Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto lead the Dodgers' rotation, Sasaki -- along with Emmet Sheehan and Justin Wrobleski -- has helped the starters to a major league-best 2.96 ERA and 28 of the team's 40 wins. That number also tops MLB.

'The top-end guys are kind of who they are -- which is great,' said manager Dave Roberts, whose team will enter the series off a 3-2 road loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday. 'But every night we have a really good chance to win because of the starting pitcher.'

One of Sasaki's best starts of the season came in his only career outing against the Angels on May 17. He gave up one run, while delivering career bests of seven innings and eight strikeouts.

The Angels averted a sweep at the hands of the Colorado Rockies with an 11-4 home victory Wednesday. Both teams are 24-39 on the season -- tied for the worst record in MLB.

The off day on Thursday gave Angels shortstop Zach Neto another day to recover following a collision at home plate last weekend against the Tampa Bay Rays. Neto missed the series against the Rockies with neck soreness and a dull headache.

'The fact that (the headache) is even minimal, I think the extra day would benefit him,' Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said, who said he was erring on the side of caution before the game on Wednesday. 'Then he comes in and will be 100% ready to go.'

Angels outfielder Wade Meckler has injected life into the offense since he made his season debut May 22. He had four hits on Wednesday, while Vaughn Grissom had a home run among his two hits and three RBIs.

The Angels could be ready to activate first baseman Nolan Schanuel (ankle) from the injured list on Friday. He has been bothered by ankle soreness most of the season and has not played since May 23.

'It's a possibility,' Suzuki said of Schanuel's return. 'Things are trending in the right direction, for sure.'

The Angels are set to send left-hander Reid Detmers (2-5, 4.63) to the mound Friday. In eight career appearances (five starts) against the Dodgers, Detmers is 1-3 with a 5.90 ERA.

--Field Level Media