Look, everyone sees the names and assumes it's a video game. You've got Shohei Ohtani returning to the mound, Yoshinobu Yamamoto entering his prime, and the Dodgers just went out and handed Blake Snell $182 million. On paper, it looks like an unfair collection of talent that should probably be illegal. But if you actually followed the 2025 season as it unfolded, you know the reality was a lot more stressful than the back of a baseball card suggests.
The 2025 Dodgers pitching staff was a massive experiment in "what if." What if we just sign every available ace and pray the training staff can keep them in one piece? It sort of worked. They won the World Series again, after all. But the path there was messy.
The 6-Man Rotation Reality
The big talk heading into the year was the six-man rotation. It had to happen. With Ohtani coming back from his second major elbow surgery and Yamamoto being used to the Japanese schedule, the five-day cycle was dead.
Honestly, it’s the only way they could have survived.
Shohei Ohtani wasn't the 2023 version of himself immediately. He threw 47 innings in the regular season. That’s it. The Dodgers were extremely protective, basically treating him like a luxury item they didn't want to scratch before the playoffs. He finished with a 2.87 ERA, which is elite, but the volume just wasn't there. People expected him to be a Cy Young contender while hitting 50 homers again; instead, he was a highly effective part-time pitcher who turned into a "wipeout" weapon when October rolled around.
Then you have Yoshinobu Yamamoto. He was the actual anchor. While everyone else was hitting the IL, Yamamoto was the only one who didn't miss a start. He threw 160 innings. For a guy people worried about because of his "slight" frame, he proved to be the toughest person on the staff. Winning the World Series MVP was just the cherry on top.
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The Glass Cannon Problem
If you want to talk about frustration, let’s talk about Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell.
The Dodgers paid a premium for these two. When they’re on, they’re unhittable. The problem is "when."
- Blake Snell: He signed that massive five-year deal and then only managed 61.1 innings in the regular season. It was the "Snell Experience" magnified. You get five innings of pure dominance followed by a month of shoulder soreness.
- Tyler Glasnow: He actually made it through 90 innings, which for him is decent, but he was scratched in September with back tightness. It felt like every time he touched 99 mph, a collective gasp went up from the fans at Chavez Ravine.
It’s easy to look at the roster and see a "superteam." It’s harder to realize that for most of May and June, Dave Roberts was basically duct-taping the rotation together with Landon Knack and Ben Casparius.
The Sasaki Factor
We have to talk about Roki Sasaki. The Dodgers getting him for a $6.5 million signing bonus felt like a heist. He's 23, throws 102 mph, and possesses a splitter that makes professional hitters look like they’ve never held a bat before.
But Sasaki struggled with the transition. His ERA sat at 4.46 through ten games. The velocity was there, but the command wasn't. It’s a reminder that even "can't-miss" prospects from Japan need time to adjust to the travel, the ball, and the relentless nature of MLB lineups. He wasn't the immediate savior people predicted, though he did flash that terrifying potential in the postseason.
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A Bullpen Built on "Stuff"
The Dodgers basically decided that if their starters were only going to go five innings, the bullpen needed to be a collection of fire-breathers.
- Edwin Diaz: The big splash. Taking him from the Mets changed everything. He brought that "Narco" energy to LA and stabilized a closer spot that had been shaky.
- Tanner Scott: Another $72 million investment. Having a lefty who throws 98 mph in the 8th inning is a cheat code.
- Blake Treinen: The old guard. He stayed healthy and stayed weird, still throwing that turbo-sinker that defies physics.
The "Banda-Aids"—guys like Anthony Banda and Alex Vesia—actually did a lot of the heavy lifting. Banda pitched 71 games. That’s insane. Without those middle-relief guys eating innings while the stars were on the shelf, the Dodgers wouldn't have even made the playoffs.
What Really Happened with the Injuries
The narrative is often "The Dodgers are lucky."
I’d argue they were just prepared. They knew Gavin Stone and River Ryan were going to miss most, if not all, of 2025. They knew Clayton Kershaw was a wild card at this stage of his career. Kershaw ended up throwing 112 innings with a 3.36 ERA—a miracle given his age and mileage.
They didn't just get lucky; they bought enough insurance policies to cover a small country.
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Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
If you’re looking ahead to how this staff evolves, there are a few things to watch. First, the trade rumors surrounding Tyler Glasnow are real. The front office is reportedly looking to shed some of that $30 million salary to make room for other needs, especially after signing Kyle Tucker.
Second, the 6-man rotation is here to stay. With Ohtani expected to take on a full starter’s workload in 2026, the Dodgers will continue to prioritize rest over rhythm.
Finally, keep an eye on the young arms. Emmet Sheehan showed flashes of being a sub-3.00 ERA guy before he got hurt. If he and Dustin May (who is basically a human question mark at this point) can provide even 100 innings each, the Dodgers won't need to spend another $200 million on a free agent next winter.
The 2025 Dodgers pitchers proved that you can't just buy a championship—but you can certainly buy enough depth to survive the war of attrition that is a 162-game season.
Check the injury reports daily if you're betting on these guys. The talent is 10/10, but the durability is a 4/10. That's the trade-off. If you want the highest ceiling in baseball, you have to accept that the floor might fall out at any moment.