The Dodgers are about to face a real test of their abilities.
With closer Edwin Diaz sidelined until well after the All-Star break, there’s concern that starting pitcher Blake Snell, who has a hefty $182 million contract, might need a similar break. A source told the California Post that Snell is set to have surgery next week to remove a bone fragment from his elbow.
The typical recovery period for this kind of surgery is around 14 weeks. However, advancements in surgical methods could potentially speed things up. Nonetheless, Snell is likely out until at least July or August.
In any case, the next few months will be a significant challenge for a team with baseball’s highest payroll.
The Dodgers are structured to handle the loss of key players like Snell and Diaz. Their $415 million roster should theoretically allow them to stay competitive, even without a few stars. They should be able to pull out victories without hitting their peak performance, as they are, well, head and shoulders above other teams.
But can they replicate last year’s success of back-to-back World Series titles?
That’s a question they’ll soon answer.
They’re trying to determine if their offense can return to its explosive form from the season’s start or if it will remain as ineffective as it has been over the past month.
With Shohei Ohtani appearing to be overworked as a dual-threat player, the Dodgers need to find scoring solutions. They’ve shown no inclination to ask Ohtani to cut back on his responsibilities, which used to be a possibility. But now, with Snell out and Tyler Glasnow unlikely to be ready when he becomes eligible to return from the injured list, that option seems off the table.
This means players who have been underperforming, like Teoscar Hernandez, need to sustain last week’s improvements. Mookie Betts must become a consistent offensive force again. Freddie Freeman has to step up his game, and Kyle Tucker needs to hit like the $240 million player the Dodgers hoped for. Max Muncy has to keep delivering as well.
The pitching staff is bound to face changes.
The Dodgers have previously relied on a six-man rotation, but manager Dave Roberts has expressed reluctance to reduce the rest days between starters.
However, there’s a significant hurdle here.
“I don’t think we currently have six viable candidates,” Roberts acknowledged.
This reality could mean that the Dodgers might need to lean more heavily on their bullpen than usual, further exhausting a relief team that’s already been stretched thin by integrating Roki Sasaki and Emmett Sheehan into the rotation.
The team knows how challenging this can be. Last season, their bullpen struggled midyear, contributing to a notable slump in July.
“It feels like we face this every year,” Roberts remarked. “But I learned that we find a way to push through.”
If they could play the Angels regularly, they might just manage it again.
Rental manager Kurt Suzuki described the Angels’ situation as a “tough stretch,” using the term “stretch” rather liberally.
But let’s be honest: the Angels are struggling. They’re doing so poorly that the Dodgers’ 6-0 win over them on Friday—where Snell was initially slated to start—doesn’t reveal much. Will Klein served as the opener in a game that saw the Dodgers employ eight pitchers, with Hernandez, Muncy, and Andy Pages hitting home runs.
They executed what was necessary against the Angels, which is, honestly, something most teams would have done.
Yet, the Dodgers were designed to outshine most teams. They’re engineered to perform at this level against contenders like the Padres, Brewers, and others in the months ahead.
