Cody Snavely
One of the most prominent question marks for the Los Angeles Dodgers this season is how the starting rotation will perform or if they’ll remain healthy come October.
But after a significant overall last winter with the signing of Japanese righty Yoshinobu Yamamoto, lefty James Paxton, and the trade for Tyle Glasnow, the rotation still was lackluster, and a shell of itself come the postseason.
Overall, the Dodgers’ starting rotation ranked 19th in ERA (4.23), 22nd in FIP (4.28), 20th in fWAR (10.1), 11th in K% (22.8%), 20th in WHIP (1.26), and 25th in innings pitched (797.2), so it’s safe to say there needs to be an improvement.
Enter the 2025 Major League Baseball offseason. The Dodgers, fresh off their eighth World Series Championship, brought in multiple arms, such as lefty Blake Snell and young Japanese righty Roki Sasaki, and expect multiple arms to return this season. They’re poised to return to what has been the Dodgers’ identity historically.
Yamamoto Looks to Take Next Step in His Career
Despite a first-game hiccup in Seoul, South Korea, rookie right-handed pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto had a tremendous first season in the States. Overall, the righty posted a 3.00 ERA, 2.61 FIP, and 1.11 WHIP while racking up 105 strikeouts in 90.0 innings pitched.
In mid-summer, after his best start of the season in New York against the Yankees, Yamamoto landed on the injured list due to shoulder inflammation. The injury kept Yamamoto out until the regular season’s final month, and the Dodgers used him on extended rest for his starts in October.
For year two, Yamamoto looks to take the next step forward in his career and, like many other starters in the Dodgers rotation, hopes to pitch an entire season.
FanGraphs projects a great year two for the former NPB star with a 3.45 ERA, 3.38 FIP, 1.08 WHIP, and a 9.36 K/9 in twenty-eight games despite the injury risk.
A nice bet to make before the start of the regular season would be for Yamamoto to win the National League Cy Young Award. Currently, according to Fox Sports Bet, the righty is tied 7th at +2000 but looks poised to have a massive season.
Snell Looks to add Much-Needed Stability and Left-Handed Option
One area the Dodgers lacked last season was an impact left-handed starting pitcher. So, this winter, the Dodgers decided to rectify that issue by signing two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell to a multi-year contract.
Over the last fifteen years, the Dodgers have been led by now-veteran lefty Clayton Kershaw; however, last season, Kershaw missed most of the year after recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and a toe and knee injury that ended his season.
However, the addition of Snell not only gives them an elite lefty in the rotation but also brings much-needed stability to a starting rotation that has been decimated by injuries.
In his career, the lefty has only eclipsed the 180.0 inning mark twice, both years being his Cy Young Award-winning seasons. Overall, Snell has averaged 177.0 innings in his career, but he is not shy about injuries.
Just last season, Snell, 32, missed some time due to a groin injury. Snell points to not having ample time in spring training to ramp up after signing with the San Francisco Giants after the team broke for camp.
Amongst pitchers with a minimum of 1000 innings pitched, Blake Snell is 1st in Major League Baseball history in K/9 with 11.2 K/9. Snell has been improving as he has matured as a pitcher, and just last season, he set a career-high in average fastball velocity (95.9 MPH) in his age-31 season. His high swing and miss rates are shown below:
- 31.6 Chase% (81st percentile)
- 37.7 Whiff% (98th percentile)
- 34.7 K% (98th percentile)
- 34.0 CSW% (1st in MLB)
Despite being behind Yamamoto in the rotation order, Snell has made it his goal to be the workhorse in the Dodgers rotation, and FanGraphs agrees, projecting the lefty to pitch 160.0 innings with a 3.45 ERA and 3.42 WHIP along with an elite 31.4% K%.
Can Glasnow Stay Healthy in Time for October?
When the Dodgers acquired right-handed pitcher Tyler Glasnow last winter in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays, they envisioned him leading the Dodgers’ rotation not only through the regular season but also into October.
Ultimately, the Dodgers gambled wrong, and Glasnow had a season-ending elbow injury, forcing the righty to miss the Dodgers World Series run, a story that Glasnow himself had heard on more than one occasion.
Despite missing October, Glasnow had a career year in Dodger Blue, setting highs in innings pitched (134.0), strikeouts (168), and games started (22). Still, another arm injury kept the narrative alive.
While last season Glasnow was set up to be the ace and workhorse of the rotation, this year he’ll slide into the third or fourth spot. Unlike last season, the Dodgers will likely be cautious with his workload and innings pitched this season.
Glasnow was able to avoid offseason surgery, as the elbow injury was revealed to be right-elbow tendonitis, but the Dodgers and Glasnow will have to be mindful of it in the future.
FanGraphs projects a decent year from the flamethrower in year two in Los Angeles. Overall, Glasnow is projected for a 3.32 ERA and 3.15 FIP in 140.0 innings pitched, just six more than his 2024 number.
Health will be a significant factor for Glasnow this season. If he can stay healthy for the Dodgers, expect another career year and, hopefully, a few starts in October.
How Will Ohtani Look after Shoulder and Elbow Surgery?
Despite winning the 2024 National League Most Valuable Player Award unanimously last year, the Los Angeles Dodgers have yet to experience the full Shohei Ohtani experience. Well, that is about to change this season.
After rehabbing from 2023 Tommy John surgery, Shohei Ohtani will return to his two-way player status and rejoin the Dodgers’ starting rotation sometime this summer. While Ohtani and Dave Roberts initially suggested a May return window, that narrative has since died down, with Ohtani taking a mental break to focus on preparing for the 2025 season offensively before the two-game set in Tokyo.
Until then, the Dodgers will roll out a traditional five-man starting rotation, but when the two-way star returns, they’ll incorporate a six-man rotation in which Yamamoto, Sasaki, and Ohtani pitch once per week like they did in Japan during their NPB years.
From 2021 until the 2023 season, Ohtani amassed 14.1 bWAR along with a 2.84 ERA, 3.23 FIP, 151 ERA+, 11.4 K/9, in 428.1 innings pitched along with a 4th place finish in the 2022 American League Cy Young Award race.
While Ohtani is an extortionary hitter, he is an equally elite pitcher when healthy and will help the Dodgers’ rotation depth. However, the main question is how the Dodgers will use him.
Many others and I assume the Dodgers want the full two-way experience come October, which is why they will likely continue to slow play him until mid-season for the stretch run.
Ohtani is facing an uphill battle. Not only is he coming back from Tommy John surgery in 2023, but he also had labrum surgery this past offseason after injuring his shoulder in the 2024 World Series.
The Dodgers and Ohtani will be cautious not to further injure the three-time MVP and risk losing him for the entire year on both sides of the ball.
How Will “the Monster of the Reiwa Era” Translate to MLB?
Perhaps the most exciting player to debut this year for the Dodgers in their starting rotation is 23-year-old Roki Sasaki, who dazzled during his brief Cactus League action.
Sasaki is in line to start Game Two of the two-game series against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo, Japan, which speaks volumes for the Dodgers’ confidence in the young righty.
Sasaki only made two appearances in Cactus League games this spring, each of them scoreless in seven total innings, racking up multiple strikeouts and showcasing his elite velocity and 80-grade splitter.
Sasaki posted a record of 30-15 with a 2.02 ERA in 414.2 innings pitched in his four seasons in the NPB. He got a taste of Major League talent when he helped Team Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
According to the President of Baseball Operations, Andrew Friedman Sasaki is under no inning restriction and will be a starting pitcher all season, but there would be constant communication throughout the whole process as each side got to know the other.
FanGraphs projects a tremendous first year for Sasaki in Dodger Blue, where the righty is expected to post a 3.48 ERA, 3.51 FIP, and a 30.9% K% in 135.0 innings of work.
Sixth-Man Rotation Starters
Rounding out the bottom of the Dodgers’ starting rotation will be Dustin May, who Dave Roberts confirmed would be the fifth starter in the rotation on Opening Day. However, May will not be the only starter who will make an impact.
One Tony Gonsolin returns from the 15-day Injured List due to his back injury he’ll also be in line to pitch meaningful innings for the Dodges this season. Bobby Miller, 25, is also likely to return sometime this season, hoping that 2024 can be used as a learning experience.
Landon Knack and Ben Casparius both have experience in a starting rotation role and could be used as stop-gap arms throughout the season, especially if an arm or two goes down. The list of minor league talent also goes on.
Nick Frasso, who missed all of last season due to shoulder surgery, is finally back and got a taste of big league action during his brief stint with the Dodgers during their Cactus League play. Lefty Justin Wrobleski also impressed at camp and had a stint in the Majors last year with Los Angeles.
Overall, the Dodgers will utilize most, if not all, of these names this season throughout 162 games.
DodgersBeat Grade B+
Overall, I love the Dodgers’ rotation, but until they can prove they can last a full 162-game season and make it through October healthy, I am hesitant to give them anything over a B. However, if they can remain somewhat healthy, they have a chance to be the best starting rotation in baseball.
Have you subscribed to the Bleed Los Podcast YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows & promotions, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
