The Los Angeles Dodgers are likely to turn to a six-man rotation during the 2025 MLB season.
The Dodgers used a five-man starting rotation during the 2024 season, but general manager Brandon Gomes called it a “safe bet” that the Dodgers will use six starters next season.
“Obviously, we can never have enough pitching, as we’ve learned,” said Gomes at the MLB GM Meetings, via Juan Toribio of MLB.com. “So pitching will be a priority, as it’ll be for every other team.”
The Dodgers went into the 2024 season with a rotation of Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Bobby Miller, Gavin Stone, and James Paxton.
Yamamoto was the only starter pitching for the Dodgers at the end of the season, as Los Angeles used a three-man rotation of Yamamoto, midseason trade acquisition Jack Flaherty, and Walker Buehler in the postseason.
The Dodgers managed to win the World Series with this rotation, but are looking to have a more secure one next season.
The Dodgers are expected to have Yamamoto, Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani, Tony Gonsolin, and Dustin May back in the rotation next season. Clayton Kershaw, Flaherty, and Buehler are currently free agents, and the status of Ohtani and Kershaw (assuming he re-signs) will be in question at the start of the season as they return from injury.
Ohtani is coming back from surgery for a torn labrum, and Kershaw is returning from both toe and meniscus surgery.
Los Angeles will be without Stone for the entirety of next season after he underwent shoulder surgery at the end of this season.
The Dodgers are expected to add at least one starter during the offseason. Los Angeles is reportedly the favorite to acquire NPB pitcher Roki Sasaki, who will be posted this offseason.
Sasaki is believed to be one of the most talented pitching prospects, and would elevate the rotation immensely.
Turning to a six-man rotation could offer more rest to pitchers, but the primary question will be if the Dodgers can stay healthy enough. The Dodgers’ rotation endured a slew of injuries throughout the 2024 season, and relied a lot on their bullpen.
They’re hoping to be able to rely on the rotation more in 2025.
