The Los Angeles Dodgers starting rotation was expected to be a strength during the 2025 season, and ultimately that is how matters played out despite some occasional bumps in the road.
The club had one of the deepest pitching staffs on paper with Tyler Glasnow, Tony Gonsolin, Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May, Shohei Ohtani, Roki Sasaki, Emmet Sheehan, Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto all contributing over the course of the year.
However, several pitchers missed significant chunks of the season due to injury, while others either had their roles changed or were removed from the roster altogether.
As the Dodgers got healthier in the second half — especially with Ohtani returning to the mound — they utilized a six-man rotation so there were enough innings to go around.
Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said the Dodgers will consider sticking with a six-man rotation in 2026, depending on the team’s other moves and their pitchers’ health, via Jeff Fletcher of the Southern California News Group:
Gomes said he’s also not certain if the Dodgers will stick with a six-man rotation. “It’s certainly on the table, but it depends how things shake out,” Gomes said.
Even with Kershaw retiring, Gonsolin reaching free agency and the possibility of additions this offseason, the Dodgers already figure to have a crowded group of starting pitchers in 2026.
Glasnow, Ohtani, Sasaki, Sheehan, Snell and Yamamoto are all expected to factor into the equation, and that doesn’t include the potential returns of injured pitchers River Ryan and Gavin Stone.
Dodgers’ pitching plans for Shohei Ohtani & Roki Sasaki
Further complicating matters is the expectation that Ohtani will be on a normal pitching schedule next year, while Sasaki could revert back to a starting role.
As things currently stand, the Dodgers will need to get creative to find enough opportunities for their starters in 2026, but it is certainly a good problem to have.
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