The Los Angeles Dodgers built their pitching staff to dominate the 2025 season, featuring a rotation that included Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki, and Shohei Ohtani. However, the Tyler Glasnow injury impacts Dodgers pitching plans significantly, as he remains sidelined with inflammation while the rest of the rotation struggles with their own health issues.
Yamamoto remains the only starter consistently available by mid-June, as Snell copes with continuing arm pain, Sasaki is still recovering from his shoulder injury while adjusting to the majors, and Ohtani is out until late summer as he rehabs following elbow surgery. The hopes placed on Tony Gonsolin’s comeback from Tommy John and back injuries were dashed when he developed elbow trouble and was moved to the 15-day injured list.
Declining Performance Raises Concerns for Dodgers’ Playoff Hopes
Despite these challenges, the Dodgers hold a 41–29 record, tied for first place in the NL West alongside the San Francisco Giants. Yet, their pitching staff has not lived up to expectations, with the team ERA falling to 4.19—placing them in the lower third of the league. This decline is alarming for a team that was constructed around elite pitchers, underscoring the urgent need to bolster the rotation beyond relying on Yamamoto alone.
Maintaining their position atop the division and preparing for a postseason push will require more than just standing pat. The Dodgers cannot afford to enter the critical stretch of the season with this fragile pitching roster.
Potential Trade Deadline Moves Focus on Strengthening Rotation
With the trade deadline fast approaching, the Dodgers must make significant moves to stabilize their starting rotation and increase their chances for October success. A prominent name linked to Los Angeles is Walker Buehler, who spent his first seven MLB seasons with the Dodgers and played key roles in two championship runs before signing a one-year deal with the Boston Red Sox this past offseason.
Rumors suggest Buehler could be available via trade, and his familiarity with the Dodgers’ system, the intense spotlight of Los Angeles baseball, and postseason experience make him a logical target. While reuniting with Buehler could provide a critical boost, the Dodgers recognize that acquiring a single pitcher will not resolve all their issues.
Whether it is Buehler or another top-tier starter available on the market, the team needs to act decisively to reinforce the pitching rotation and avoid slipping in the NL West standings. As one source puts it,
“Buehler knows the city, the pressure, and the postseason lights. Bringing him back wouldn’t just be strategic; it’s a potential season saver.”
—Anonymous baseball analyst
Urgency to Recover and Reinforce Before Playoffs
The priority for the Dodgers remains clear: recover health among their current starters, acquire reliable pitching help, and prepare to contend deep into the postseason. Failure to address these pitching challenges could undermine their hold on the division and diminish their chances of competing for another World Series title.
The team’s management faces a tense summer with significant pressure to make the right decisions before the trade deadline. Every move will be scrutinized, as the Dodgers strive to transform their injury-hit rotation back into the powerhouse it was projected to be at the season’s start.