The Los Angeles Dodgers thought they had done everything they could to avoid a similar starting rotation conundrum that they suffered last October.
After entering the 2024 postseason with just three healthy starters — including a struggling Walker Buehler — the Dodgers added two of the best starters in free agency this offseason in Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki.
Those two players would join Yoshinobu Yamamoto and tons of returning stars to make up arguably the best rotation in MLB history.
The Dodgers 2025 rotation (I don’t even know how to order it at this point)
1. Shohei Ohtani
2. Yoshinobu Yamamoto
3. Blake Snell
4. Tyler Glasnow
5. Roki SasakiThey also have Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, Bobby Miller, Landon Knack and Clayton Kershaw is expected to re-sign.
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) January 17, 2025
Or so the Dodgers thought.
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Just two starts into the season, Snell went on the injured list due to a shoulder injury. Tyler Glasnow, who missed the final three months of last season, followed him shortly after with a shoulder injury of his own.
The Dodgers have had to piece together a rotation and currently lead the league in bullpen innings. Things don’t appear to be getting better anytime soon.
Cassidy Sparrow/Getty Images
On Sunday, ahead of the Dodgers’ series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks, manager Dave Roberts told reporters that both Snell and Glasnow will be meeting with the team’s doctor, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, as their injuries continue to linger.
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The bigger concern is with Snell, who has been out since April 2 and was supposed to start throwing during the team’s current road trip, which began 10 days ago.
However, Snell’s shoulder discomfort has not gone away, and he’s now checking in with Dr. ElAttrache to find a solution.
As for Glasnow, he has started throwing, so there appears to be less concern with him, as he’s just doing a normal check-in with Dr. ElAttrache. Nevertheless, neither of them appear to be nearing a return, which doesn’t bode well for a Dodgers rotation that entered Sunday with the second-fewest innings pitched this year at 182.2, only ahead of the Miami Marlins (181.1).
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Blake Snell joined #Dodgers on this road trip with expectation that he would start throwing program. He has not. Will visit Dr. Neal ElAttrache in LA on Monday. Tyler Glasnow began throwing this weekend but will also pay Dr. Neal a visit on Monday
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) May 11, 2025
The Dodgers rotation currently consists of Yamamoto, Sasaki, Tony Gonsolin, and Dustin May. Clayton Kershaw is expected to rejoin the team by next week. Shohei Ohtani isn’t expected to pitch until after the All-Star break.
Glasnow, who last pitched on April 27, appears to be ahead of Snell in his recovery as he’s started throwing. However, both still need to throw bullpen sessions, face live hitters and then go on a rehab assignment before even thinking about returning.
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