With Spring Training officially underway, the Dodgers have a lot to think about in terms of pitching, especially where the rotation is concerned. With a lot of talent fighting for a spot, Los Angeles will have some decisions to make as to where pitchers end up once the season starts in March.
The team is not afraid to put traditional starters in the bullpen, as we saw during the 2025 postseason, and they may have to go that route again.
With a few established starters on the roster in Spring Training, some of the younger talent might have to get used to playing roles they haven’t before. For guys like Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glashow, a spot in the rotation is almost guaranteed. Yamamoto and Snell will most likely be the first two options in the rotation for the Dodgers, given their success in 2025, with Glasnow following.
That means that there are two spots left up for grabs, with tons of talent left to fill the gaps for Los Angeles. Bobby Miller and Landon Knack have been up-and-down for the Dodgers and provide formidable pitching, but the guys returning from injury might have a better chance at cracking the rotation.
Gavin Stone and River Ryan did not pitch in 2025 after suffering injuries, but both young arms are in camp for the Dodgers this spring. Stone has pitched just one inning so far in 2026, but looked solid in his return to the mound after not pitching since mid-2024. Ryan, who only made four starts for Los Angeles in 2024 before suffering an injury, has also made one appearance for the team so far.
With how the two have been utilized in the past, fans could see the team alternating them in the rotation based on analytics and certain lineups. How the two will impact the Dodgers will become clearer as they make more starts this spring, but I would expect them to compete for the last two spots.
Justin Wrobleski originally came through the ranks as a starter for the Dodgers, but the 2025 regular and postseason proved that he is most effective as a middle reliever. Wrobleski, 25, had a disappointing 2025 campaign on paper, posting a 4.32 ERA through 66.2 innings pitched across 24 games.
The southpaw gave the performance of a lifetime for the Dodgers in the World Series when they needed him most. Wrobleski, in his second year as a major leaguer, tossed five scoreless innings in four games against the Blue Jays. Wrobleski was initially left off the NLDS and NLCS rosters, but made the most of his opportunity, an asset Los Angeles will need as they look to three-peat.
The Dodgers made headlines in December when they signed Edwin Dìaz, who brings a whole new look to the Dodgers’ bullpen. On top of Dìaz, the boys in blue also have veteran Brusdar Graterol at their disposal, even though he missed all of 2025 with an injury.
Dìaz, perhaps the most prolific closer in the game, signed a three-year, $66 million deal with Los Angeles, keeping him with the team through 2029. The closer posted 28 saves in 62 games for the New York Mets in 2025, adding to his superstar repertoire. Dìaz brings a lot to the table for a club that struggled to find a concrete closer in 2025, and his ability to compete will make him a viable option.
The Dodgers had a season-long closer problem in 2025, mostly due to the injury of Graterol. The right-hander suffered a torn labrum in the 2024 World Series and is yet to make his way back to the mound. Graterol’s recovery has been a long process, and it looks like he won’t be ready for the start of the 2026 season. Regardless, the 27-year-old has the ability to shut down top offenses with his speed, an asset that will be needed given that most of the Dodgers’ relievers rely on skill.
The Dodgers have a lot of choices to make between now and the start of the regular season, but Spring Training might help clear things up on the pitching front. With how much Los Angeles has struggled with pitching injuries over the past few years, the team has a good problem to have. Too much talent in a gift, and it seems like the Dodgers are fully prepared to make the most of it in 2026.
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