PHOENIX –– The dullest spring training in baseball has come to a close.
On Saturday, the Dodgers finished packing up at Camelback Ranch, loading their gear into boxes and a moving van for the trip back to Los Angeles after six weeks of largely uneventful prep work.
“It was quite a calm camp,” manager Dave Roberts quipped Friday. “Some might call it boring, but I think that ended up being beneficial for us.”
Surprisingly, the Dodgers return home in better shape than anticipated as they eye a third consecutive World Series title.
This spring, the team only faced one significant injury setback—Gavin Stone’s shoulder surgery recovery. Fortunately, all five players who participated in the World Baseball Classic came back without issues. As of now, with only one bench spot left to fill, Hyesung Kim and Alex Freeland are in the mix for that final position.
Most notably, the team performed well enough, posting a Cactus League-leading record of 19-8-1 after a 5-5 tie with the Athletics on Saturday.
However, several questions linger as they prepare for Thursday’s opening day. After these weeks of practice, the team’s situation remains somewhat unclear.
Rotation Depth
The top of the Dodgers’ rotation seems formidable. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is set to start on opening day after impressive performances during the WBC. Tyler Glasnow showed considerable improvement this spring, and even Shohei Ohtani is adjusting well post-WBC. Plus, Blake Snell appears to be on track for recovery following an offseason shoulder issue, which could potentially give the Dodgers four ace-level starters.
Yet, there’s concern about the depth in the rotation. Aki Sasaki’s struggles have been evident throughout the spring. Emmett Sheehan also had a tough outing, finishing the camp with a 5.91 ERA after allowing four runs and notching five strikeouts in 4.2 innings during Saturday’s start.
For the moment, they seem likely to fill the No. 4 and No. 5 spots in the rotation, with Justin Roblewski available as a backup or to step in as a sixth starter if needed. They might manage with just a five-man rotation at the start of the season due to ample off days.
Beyond the current five, there are uncertainties, particularly with Stone sidelined and River Ryan recovering from Tommy John surgery. Cole Irvin and Landon Knack are the next best choices within the organization.
Last season, the Dodgers struggled with starter longevity, causing problems for the bullpen. Until Sasaki, Sheehan, or another option can demonstrate consistent efficiency, there’s a valid concern about overtaxing the bullpen early on.
Right-Handed Reliever
The Dodgers do have a strong asset in new closer Edwin Diaz, but questions remain about how they’ll bridge to him in the ninth inning.
While they have solid left-handed options like Alex Bashear and Jack Dryer, the right-handed relief corps has not inspired a lot of confidence during spring training.
Blake Treinen is a major concern, having allowed seven hits, seven walks, and six runs over his last five appearances. Young pitchers like Ben Kasparius and Edgardo Henriques have also struggled with control.
Kyle Hart, despite a strong camp after returning from Tommy John, may be among the more reliable right-handers this spring. He followed his World Series performance by striking out nine batters while allowing just one earned run and one walk across nine games.
Still, Klein’s limited major league experience could present a challenge in maintaining effectiveness against opposing right-handed hitters in crucial situations.
Stay Healthy
The Dodgers left spring training in relatively good health, but maintaining that is another story.
They need to be mindful of the wear and tear from last year’s playoffs. The roster is filled with younger players in their 30s who faced tough Octobers two years running.
This is why the team has been cautious about players’ workloads during camp, with most getting a slower ramp-up—save for a couple of exceptions. Once the regular season kicks off, that careful approach will be harder to continue, and keeping everyone healthy over 162 games could prove pivotal.
