Dodgers have the best lineup in baseball… if healthy

The Dodgers’ have been tested on their path to immortality, overcoming a wave of pitching injuries in 2024 and near-elimination in last year’s Fall Classic. Because of that, manager Dave Roberts said the pressure on the team actually feels lessened now.

“I think the back-to-back was more of something,” he said this spring. “I don’t think we feel any pressure. I felt it more last year.”

While that might be true internally, the external spotlight on the team has never been brighter.

The club’s record-breaking spending has caused consternation around the league, raising fears of a lockout at season’s end. The addition of two more star signings this past offseason –– Kyle Tucker and Edwin Díaz, to go along with the blockbuster acquisitions of Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and others in previous winters –– has fueled a narrative they are bad for the competitive balance of the sport.

Not since those late-90s Yankees has a single team been so polarizing.

And perhaps at no point in the game’s modern era has a roster ever looked so stacked.

Thus, their pursuit of a three-peat will be baseball’s central storyline all summer and into the fall. Plenty will be rooting for the Dodgers’ downfall this year. But history beckons if they can triumph again, with a case for “greatest team of all-time” to be made if they can return to the mountaintop.

First Base

Last year, Freddie Freeman paid for his heroics in the 2024 World Series. Though the former MVP was still good (.295 average, 24 home runs, 90 RBIs, and a ninth career All-Star selection), he was clearly limited by the ankle injury he played through the postseason before, resulting in increased strikeout rates and decreased defensive range. This offseason, however, the 36-year-old got back to full health. And now, he has eyes set on a resurgent campaign, raving about the feel of his swing during spring training.

Second Base

Eventually, this will be Tommy Edman’s spot. But as he recovers from an offseason ankle surgery that will sideline him for the start of the campaign, the Dodgers will have to get creative. Miguel Rojas figures to get plenty of early at-bats. Hyeseong Kim and Alex Freeland present left-handed options for him to platoon with. When Edman does return, the Dodgers will be hoping for him to also display improved production, after being hampered by his injury last year.

Shortstop

Mookie Betts proved himself as a Gold Glove-caliber shortstop in his move to the position last year. Now, he needs to show he can still be an MVP-caliber hitter, too. Coming off a 2025 campaign in which he posted career lows in batting average (.285) and OPS (.732), Betts has tried to “re-wire” his swing and regain the strength he lost last year following a spring training stomach virus. He voiced optimism about his play this spring. But time will tell if he can fully rediscover his once-elite form.

Third Base

Now the Dodgers’ longest-tenured player, Max Muncy is back for his ninth season with the club, trying to avoid the injury problems that have plagued him the past two years. When healthy in 2025, there were stretches Muncy still looked like one of the game’s premier slugging threats. But his oblique has long been bothersome, prompting changes to his training program this winter in search of better health and more consistent play.

Left Field

Despite offseason trade rumors, Teoscar Hernández returns to the Dodgers in a new position, going back to left field after last year’s struggles in right. Hernández was hampered by a groin injury in 2025, but also left much to be desired with his defensive consistency and at-bat quality. So, he got in better shape this winter, made a point of playing early and often this spring, and now is hoping to get back to his 2024 form, when he had a career-best, All-Star caliber season in his first year in Los Angeles.

Center Field

The Dodgers haven’t successfully integrated many prospects into their lineup in recent years. But Andy Pages has been the exception. He was almost an All-Star last year, batting .272 with 27 home runs in his first full MLB campaign. And despite a horrific postseason slump that led to a World Series benching, he still made a season-saving catch in Game 7 that will forever live in Dodgers lore. Now, he is looking to take the next step, and cement his place in the team’s long-term future.

Right Field

Entering the offseason, the Dodgers insisted they didn’t need another superstar acquisition. Then, they went and signed Kyle Tucker to a $240 million contract anyway. With that deal comes lofty expectations for the four-time All-Star. He has been one of the most prolific hitters in the majors the last half-decade, yet is still looking for a signature, MVP-caliber type campaign. The Dodgers think he’s capable of that this year, especially if he can get back to Gold Glove form defensively.

Catcher

Amid all the other memorable moments from last year’s World Series run, Will Smith’s extra-inning, title-winning home run in Game 7 has almost been forgotten. Within the organization, however, it was further validation of his status as arguably the best catcher in the sport. Smith will be seeking a fourth consecutive All-Star nod this year, but the Dodgers will also be mindful of his workload. Former top prospect Dalton Rushing will back him up, trying to rebound from a disappointing rookie performance.

Designated Hitter

The only real question with Shohei Ohtani this year is how he re-adjusts to full-time two-way duties. Because offensively, he has continued to put up historic levels of production. Last year, he captured his fourth MVP award while hitting a career-high 55 home runs. If there’s anything he can improve on, it’s cutting down on strikeouts (he had 187 last year) and upping a batting average that dipped to .282 a season ago.

Starting Pitching

If healthy, this should be the best rotation in the sport. Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start opening day, aiming for a Cy Young Award coming off his heroic 2025 performance and World Series MVP honors. Tyler Glasnow has said his mechanics feel as good as they have in years. And eventually, Blake Snell will return from a shoulder injury that limited him this offseason and will keep him out for the start of the season. Roki Sasaki is the wild card of the group, returning to a starting role after his surprise emergence as last year’s playoff closer. Emmet Sheehan provides further depth, while River Ryan and Gavin Stone are returning from injuries (albeit, while facing limited workloads).

Relief Pitching

The biggest weakness from last year’s team, the Dodgers’ bullpen should be improved thanks to their offseason signing of All-Star closer Edwin Díaz. Still, Tanner Scott and Blake Treinen will need to bounce back from poor 2025 performances. Alex Vesia will need to remain one of the top left-handed relievers in the game. And younger arms like Jack Dreyer, Ben Casparius, Will Klein, Kyle Hurt and Edgardo Henriquez will need to provide depth. The unit should get stronger as the year goes on, with Brock Stewart, Evan Phillips and Brusdar Graterol coming back from injuries. Justin Wrobleski also offers a trustworthy multi-inning option.  

Bench

Alex Call will be the fourth outfielder. Rojas, Espinal, Kim, Freeland and Kiké Hernández will all be utility options. The Dodgers are unlikely to have many pinch-hit opportunities this year, given the stars populating their primary lineup. But an aging roster means injuries are bound to happen, so expect stretches of the year where depth will be tested.

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