The Los Angeles Dodgers wrapped up the 2025 season with more days on the injured list than any other team. This might not shock anyone familiar with the Dodgers' history and the injury-prone nature of many of their pitchers.
Yet, it highlights the team's impressive depth, a testament to their strategic approach. By occasionally opting for a six-man rotation and strictly managing pitch counts, the Dodgers are ultra-conservative, leveraging their financial muscle to build a roster depth that most teams can only dream of.
It's easy to search for a single explanation, but the Dodgers' strategy is a blend of several factors. Yes, they have pitchers with histories of injuries, but their handling of these players is unique.
Take Blake Snell, for instance. Both Snell and manager Dave Roberts hinted before the season that the team would be cautious with him.
After pushing through shoulder discomfort last spring-perhaps eager to prove his worth following a big contract-Snell ended up on the injured list. Though he returned for the playoffs, this experience led to an even more cautious approach in 2026.
Snell is just one of many high-priced, talented pitchers the Dodgers can afford to be careful with, thanks to their depth. The real question might be: how severe would a health crisis need to be before fans genuinely worry about the Dodgers missing the playoffs? For many, postseason play is almost a given, no matter how unrealistic that might seem.
Of course, if pitchers like Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto could each deliver over 30 starts and excel in October, that's ideal. But expecting that from a group with such a track record of injuries, including Tyler Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani, is a tall order.
Individually, any of these pitchers might face a heavier workload on a less resourceful team. Snell's situation is a prime example.
Even looking back at Ohtani last season, he could have been pushed to pitch more consistently. However, recovering from major elbow surgery, the Dodgers prioritized his playoff readiness over regular-season mileage.
In essence, the Dodgers are maximizing their assets. If Glasnow and Snell had fewer health concerns, they might not have been available to the Dodgers at all, or at least not at their current cost. This strategic depth is a key element of the Dodgers' continued success.