This story was excerpted from Sonja Chen’s Dodgers Beat publication. To learn the complete publication, click on right here. And subscribe to get it often in your inbox.
The Dodgers are almost a month into the 2025 season, so it seems like an excellent time for a mailbag.
Due to everybody who submitted questions — which have been calmly edited for readability — by means of the hyperlink within the earlier publication.
Throughout the offseason, a lot was made by some media and rivals that the Dodgers have been exhibiting overkill by stockpiling and overstuffing their rotation and bullpen. Regardless of this, right here we’re a month in with accidents to Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Tony Gonsolin; inconsistency from Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates; a bullpen that’s logged probably the most innings in MLB. … Is there any organizational concern that an excessive amount of pitching nonetheless isn’t going to be sufficient to cowl six extra months? — Kevin C. from Ashland, Ky.
I believe nearly each workforce, regardless of how its organizational depth seems to be, has these sorts of issues. Starting the season with out Gonsolin and dropping Snell and Blake Treinen in April have put that depth to the take a look at. (The cramping that put an early finish to Glasnow’s earlier outing should not stop him from making his subsequent begin.) The spot begins in Snell’s flip haven’t gone significantly effectively, one issue that has put extra pressure on the bullpen.
On paper, the Dodgers’ employees must be extremely deep by, say, midseason. In actuality, it is tough to foretell what the workforce will get out of a few of these arms provided that a number of are coming back from long-term accidents.
However in a super world the place everybody who’s presently wholesome stays that approach, and the arms on the mend all stay roughly on schedule with their rehab …
I do know you’ll be able to by no means have sufficient pitching, particularly contemplating the Dodgers have already got some pitchers with harm points early within the season, however how are they going to slot in all of the rehabbing pitchers that could possibly be coming again within the subsequent month or so, reminiscent of Clayton Kershaw, Shohei Ohtani and Gonsolin? — Dave Ok. from Yorba Linda, Calif.
… that may create a sophisticated state of affairs, even when it’s a high-class downside. However I believe it is unlikely that the best-case state of affairs healthwise performs out.
I might count on the Dodgers to typically take a slower method with rehabbing their injured pitchers, so long as there isn’t any urgent must have them again. We have seen that with Ohtani, Kershaw and Michael Kopech, and even with Gonsolin. There was a case to carry Gonsolin again on Wednesday, as a substitute of working a bullpen sport on the identical day he made what must be his remaining rehab begin — however the Dodgers have not rushed him.
That is the opposite facet of the priority with depth. The employees ought to solely get deeper because the season goes on, organising some powerful selections — however these selections is also taken out of the workforce’s palms resulting from harm.
At this level, I might guess that Kershaw returns earlier than Ohtani, which might mark the primary powerful rotation choice the Dodgers should make. That might probably imply shifting Gonsolin or Dustin Could to lengthy reduction, an possibility that was on the desk when each have been competing for the fifth starter position in spring.
What’s your guess concerning what the Dodgers do with Dalton Dashing? Appears a criminal offense to maintain him within the Minors. Play him within the outfield? Maintain him within the Minors until there’s an harm and, if not, transfer him on the Deadline? — Jeff C. from N.C.
The expectation is that Dashing will see time with the Dodgers sooner or later this yr, however he isn’t prone to get the decision for a brief stint. An extended-term harm might open the door, as a result of supervisor Dave Roberts has stated that the workforce ideally would not carry up its No. 2 prospect (No. 28 total) with out on a regular basis enjoying alternatives.
That is the place it will get difficult. Dashing has made 11 begins at catcher, plus two at first base and three at DH. He is additionally logged an inning in left subject, which is fascinating, as a result of it sounded just like the Dodgers have been transferring away from that path in spring.
The Dodgers have talked about getting Will Smith and Freddie Freeman extra relaxation. Maybe that might open up a while at catcher and first for Dashing, with the occasional stint within the outfield to maintain him within the lineup. I do see Dashing within the Dodgers’ plans going ahead, however it must take some creativity to steadiness what’s greatest for his improvement with what’s greatest for the workforce.
