The Dodgers are cruising along with an MLB-best 16-7 record (tied with the Padres) and first place in the NL West championship. Still, more pitching help should be available soon. On the left Blake Snell is expected to start the Single-A Ontario Tower Buzzers tonight as he builds to his first season, according to MLB.com’s Sonja Chen.
Shoulder fatigue in his throwing arm started last year. While Snell was able to throw an impressive 95 1/3 innings between the regular season and the postseason last year, the Dodgers erred on the side of caution and put the lefty on IL to open the season. Snell was held to three innings tonight and will need four starts to reach the MLB mark of five innings/75-pitch, putting the timeline for his first major league return in late May.
Even without Snell, the Dodgers’ rotation hasn’t missed a beat. Their 14th-ranked start led all MLB entering the game today. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnowagain Shohei Ohtani they’ve been pretty good, though Justin Wrobleski it provided some surprising stability after rotation (despite the lack of impact). Among Wrobleski, Emmett Sheehanagain Roki Sasakithe Dodgers will have a rotation decision to make in the coming weeks when Snell returns.
Sasaki has recorded an exit in the fifth inning in just two of his four starts this season. Given his performance out of the bullpen in last year’s tournament, it’s natural to wonder if Sasaki might be given a ticket to relief. At least for now, Sasaki’s role seems safe. In response to Sasaki’s thinking in relief, the Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes gave Fabian Ardaya and Katie Woo of The Athletic a “No.” Reading between the lines, it appears that the final rotation spot will fall to either Wrobleski or Sheehan, with Wrobleski currently running the inside track. Performance in the coming weeks could change this assessment (and an injury to another rotation could stop it altogether).
It’s an interesting position for Gomes and the organization, given Sasaki’s struggles, but it reflects the Dodgers’ long-term belief in his potential. Sasaki gave up just one run in 10 2/3 innings last season, but he wasn’t dominant by any means. His 2.3 K-BB% wasn’t good, and ERA models like xFIP (5.72) and SIERA (5.35) didn’t like his performance in an admittedly small sample for what it is. However, Sasaki was able to shake off the long ball issues (again, small sample size) that have plagued his MLB career thus far. Presumably, Sasaki’s volatile October performance had little impact on the organization’s long-term perception of him.
Sasaki’s 2026 debut looks very similar to 2025, with a slight improvement in hitting and more fly balls out of the yard on average. But if the Dodgers continue to commit to locking him up in the rotation, one of Wrobleski or Sheehan will be duplicated from the lineup or bullpen. Fortunately, both Wrobleski and Sheehan have options remaining, meaning either of them could be freely moved between the big league club and their minor league affiliates when they are presented with waivers. Sasaki also has options remaining, meaning the Dodgers could allow him to continue working as a starter in the minors if they want to keep him extended as a starter, though that route seems unlikely.
LA’s pecking order is also currently under scrutiny after being approached Edwin Diaz he went under the knife to remove the corpses from his throwing elbow. While manager Dave Roberts admitted that the top lefty Tanner Scott he would get more chances to save, he stopped short of anointing him, clearly stating (via Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register) the method as “…the very close committee way of doing it.” High-leverage is good Brock Stewartcurrently rehabbing with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers, is also set to return. Among lefties (Scott no Alex Vesia) and privileges (Blake Treinen and Stewart), Roberts should have plenty of options available to attack hitters in the late innings until Diaz’s return.
