Bold opening: The Dodgers’ plans for 2026 hinge on a fragile health check that could redefine their rotation and bullpen from day one.
But here’s the twist that many fans overlook: Blake Snell won’t be ready for opening day. The Dodgers pushed their starting five to the limit during the 2025 World Series run, asking every playoff starter to contribute in Game 7. Snell, who endured a prolonged four-month absence in the regular season, worked 34 postseason innings over six appearances to deliver his first title. Yet that heavy workload comes with a price: a very slow offseason and lingering left-shoulder discomfort. As a result, Dave Roberts struck a sober note about Snell’s status for the start of the season.
“He’s not on a mound right now. He’s not in games,” Roberts said on Saturday. “The odds of him starting the season are probably zero.”
With Snell sidelined at the outset, the Dodgers face an open slot in the back end of the rotation. That vacancy invites a closer look at internal options, including promising young arms Gavin Stone, River Ryan, and Justin Wrobleski, who could seize the opportunity to prove themselves early in 2026.
Meanwhile, the bullpen reshaping is also on the horizon. Tanner Scott’s first season in Los Angeles didn’t meet expectations, and he’s candid about turning the page. Scott acknowledged a rough past year but emphasized a fresh start in 2026, saying he plans to “wash it, flush it like a toilet, and just let it be.”
Edwin Díaz is slated to anchor the late innings, likely replacing Scott as closer. Jack Vita of the Los Angeles Times outlines how the bullpen could align with Díaz at the back end, plus the return of Alex Vesia and the hoped-for bounce-back performances from veterans including Blake Treinen.
Roberts underscored the value of trusted veterans in the bullpen, noting, “Adding Díaz to the back end is huge for us and getting Alex Vesia back is going to be good, and also Blake [Treinen]. Blake wasn’t right last year, clearly. He’s throwing the baseball really well. Having guys that you trust is everything for the pen. … You’ve got to count on those veteran guys for sure.”
If you’re wondering where this leaves the Dodgers come April, the immediate answer is: only time will tell. The club will lean on depth, development, and disciplined pitching to weather Snell’s absence while keeping the window open for a fast, late-season surge."
