2026 in Preview: The Pitching Staff
I thought about breaking this down into two posts: The Starting Pitchers and the Relief Pitchers, but they are so intertwined that I did not think that was prudent. However, before I get into that, Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette are still unsigned – their markets simply have not…
I thought about breaking this down into two posts: The Starting Pitchers and the Relief Pitchers, but they are so intertwined that I did not think that was prudent. However, before I get into that, Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette are still unsigned – their markets simply have not developed as they hoped. Andrew Friedman is boxing out around the backboard. I know a little about rebounding: In High School, I averaged 17.1 points and 17.7 rebounds per game. I liked to clean the glass. However, I digress. If the club views Bo Bichette as a viable fit at third base, he could spend a year at second base and then transition to the hot corner for the rest of what is likely to be a lengthy contract, say 8 years at $200 million. His arm is “borderline” for 3B, I think.
You Can’t Consider the Starters Without Considering the Relievers
They say that you can never have enough pitching, but I might argue that the Dodgers are bordering on “too much.” Let’s look at the possible starters:
- Yamamoto
- Snell
- Glasnow
- Ohtani
- Sasaki
- Stone
- Sheehan
- Ryan
- Wrobleski
- Casparius
- Ferris
- Serwinowski
- Knack
Of course, the Dodgers only need six starters, so it’s likely that Stone, Sheehan, Ryan, Wrobleski, and Casparius will be in consideration for the bullpen, and Ferris and Serwinowski will stay in the minors. This is likely to be the rotation:
- Yamamoto
- Snell
- Glasnow
- Ohtani
- Sasaki
- Stone
Of course, there will be injuries – there always are. Barring trades, Sheehan would be the first man up. Sheehan, Ryan, Wrobleski, and Casparius will all be in bullpen consideration to go with the following pitchers:
- Tanner Scott
- Edwin Diaz
- Blake Treinen
- Jack Dreyer
- Alex Vesia
- Brock Stewart
- Will Klein
- Bazooka Graterol
- Kyle Hurt
- Edguardo Henriquez
- Anthony Banda
- Ronan Kopp
- Bobby Miller
- Paul Gervase
- Landon Knack
They say you can’t have too much pitching – YES, YOU CAN. The Dodgers have too much pitching, but that is good. I think you will see some trades involving Dodger Pitchers.
Let me know your thoughts!
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Discussion (48)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Mark, you must really value Glasnow to give him 2 of the 6 starting spots. 🙂 Of course, that does mean that if one of the Glasnows gets hurt we’ll still have the other one. I think, for right now, we have to pencil Sheehan in for the 6th spot, subject to trades, etc. Bichette – I’ve read that he’s told teams he’d be willing to play 2B. Nowhere have I read that he’s agreed to play 3B. If AF signs him to play 2B, I’m all on board, but 3B? I don’t think so.
1. Yeah, I really screwed that up. Thank You. I fixed it. 2. I am not convinced Bo can play 3B, but that is a possibility.
It’s probably best to think of the bullpen as a rotating group of guys from the minors and the DL. There is simply no way to roster them all. If Henriquez starts the year in the minors because he has options, he’ll just have to hang on until a spot opens up. By the the postseason it’s a full meritocracy.
Right now Sheehan is the sixth starter over Stone and Ryan. Stone and Ryan both previously injured start the year at Oklahoma City. I’m still advocating for AF and BG to sign Bo Bichette to play second base as I have from day one.
Top 10 MLB Teams by Projected WAR (2026 Season) Here are the top 10 teams ranked by their preseason projected total WAR for the upcoming season: Rank Team Projected WAR 1 Dodgers 51.2 2 Blue Jays 46.7 3 Yankees 45.9 4 Mariners 45.0 5 Mets 43.4 6 Phillies 43.1 7 Red Sox 43.0 8 Astros 42.3 9 Padres 41.1 10 Royals 40.8
Projected 2026 Dodgers WAR by Position Position Projected WAR Starting Rotation 17.1 Bullpen 4.7 Designated Hitter 5.5 Shortstop 5.1 First Base 3.2 Catcher 3.8 Center Field 2.8 Third Base 3.0 Right Field 1.9 Left Field 1.8 Second Base 2.0 Total 51.2
Second base is a concern. Which ever outfield position Teo plays could be a concern. Offensively Teo will be just fine. Heck, I believe he’s even better this season. Defensively? If he reports to camp lighter as reported, he could be adequate in LEFT field. The jays really want Tucker. If that happens, doesn’t Bichette feel the need to play in LA? If you can’t beat em, join them. A little surprised that Freddie at first has a lower WAR than I would have expected. Second? Yeah. The outfield? Center field is the key here. Pages should bring that number up if he hits! As I said earlier, Teo in left field, with a big year offensively could also raise that number. Listening to mlb network this morning. Steve Phillips and company believe the Jays are as good as the Dodgers especially if they can get Tucker. We’ll see! Put Bichette in the Dodger lineup? I’ll still take the Dodgers! I guess it’s easy to pull against the 2 time champion to fail. But I bet nobody in their right mind would wager a big bundle that the Dodgers won’t be in the World Series this upcoming season! Know I wouldn’t! Ole Miss and Indiana will play for the national championship!
BINGO. Sheehan has already proven he has bounced back from his major surgery. There is no guarantee Stone or Ryan will do the same in their first year back. Plus Sheehan is just plain better than both of them anyway. 🙂
Eduardo Quintero wins Dodgers Minor League award “Quintero, who was signed by the Dodgers as an international free agent on Jan. 15, 2023, out of Ocumare del Tuy, Venezuela, was the organization’s Branch Rickey Minor League Player of the Year last season. Quintero hit .306/.426/.533 with 14 home runs and 53 RBI with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga before earning a promotion to the Great Lakes Loons. Upon moving up to High-A, Quintero batted .259/.384/.440 with four doubles, one triple, five home runs and 16 RBI over 32 games. Across his time with both affiliates, Quintero stole 47 bases in 60 attempts. That was good for fourth among all Dodgers Minor Leaguers, trailing Kendall George (100), Jaron Elkins (62) and Esteury Ruiz (61)”.
Wrong! Miami beats Ole Miss tonight.
Maybe. But Indiana wins it all!
Gavin Stone has completed his full rehab process and reported that he expects to head into Spring Training 2026 “full-go” with no limitations. I like both pitchers, but think Shehan will be traded.
BANG!
In their dreams they beat Ole Miss.
I got Miami too!
Doesn’t matter–loser loses to either Indiana or Oregon
Gentleman’s bet: I have Oregon tomorrow.
Per Matt Gelb, The Phillies have a meeting set with Bo Bichette in the coming days and, as circumstances this offseason have changed, so has their interest level in the star infielder.
The Dodgers reached a contract agreement with Brock Stewart ($1.3 M) and Alex Call ($1.6 M). Banda is the only one left.
BA’s Top 30 for the Dodgers ($$$$) https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2012-los-angeles-dodgers/prospects/?season=2026&ranking=preseason Catching my eye: Davalan at 6 Zazueta at 12 Tunink at 18 Leiter at 25
https://nypost.com/2026/01/08/sports/yankees-bo-bichette-interest-intensifies-amid-cody-bellinger-gap/?utm_source=reddit.com Heyman says Bichette wants $300mm. But this feels like the Yankees trying to influence Bellinger’s hand. To me at least.
Banda signed also (1.625 MM). Everyone taken care of.
I’m a big Tunink fan. Video I saw of him the day we drafted him reminded me of what Bellinger looked like on the day we took him. Belli subsequently went through a lot of changes in his swing but I’ll settle for a Bellinger-like Dodger career out of Tunink. I think Davalan could get to Dodger Stadium before any of the Big 4 (JDP, Hope, Sirota, Quintero). We’re going to have outfielders coming out of our ears in a couple of years. Hopefully AF/BG can sort out the wheat from the chaff and trade some of the lesser guys before their trade value tanks.
Yep Tibbs too
Haha