As the Dodgers gear up for what promises to be a high-stakes 2026 campaign, the battle for a spot on the Opening Day roster is already heating up - and it's not just about who can throw the hardest or rack up the most strikeouts. It's about upside, durability, and who can make an impact right now. Emmet Sheehan, Gavin Stone, and River Ryan are the names to watch as the team looks to round out its pitching staff, either with a sixth starter or a versatile long reliever.
Let’s start with Sheehan. He made a compelling case last season, tossing 73 1/3 innings with a 2.82 ERA, a 147 ERA+, and a WHIP just under 1.00.
That’s not just solid - that’s the kind of production that usually locks down a rotation spot. But the Dodgers’ front office, led by Andrew Friedman, seems particularly intrigued by the returns of Stone and Ryan - two arms coming back from injury but packed with potential.
Stone led the Dodgers in innings pitched in 2024, a year when the rotation was stretched thin. He was a workhorse until shoulder inflammation shut him down in September, eventually leading to surgery that wiped out his 2025.
Before the injury, he showed flashes of being more than just a back-end guy. A complete game shutout highlighted what he’s capable of when everything clicks - a reliable No. 3 starter with the upside of a No.
Then there’s River Ryan, who might have the highest ceiling of them all. His 2024 season was brief - just four starts before Tommy John surgery - but he left a strong impression.
In just 20 innings, he posted a 1.33 ERA and an eye-popping 305 ERA+. The Dodgers didn’t push him too hard, averaging only five innings per start, but the raw stuff was undeniable.
MLB.com has already pegged Ryan as the Dodgers’ X-factor for 2026, and it’s easy to see why. His pitch mix and movement profile have drawn comparisons to some of the game’s best - think Gerrit Cole, George Kirby, Edward Cabrera, and Jared Jones.
That’s elite company, and while comps can sometimes be overblown, the underlying data backs it up. According to Statcast, Ryan’s pitch movement in 2024 mirrored Cole’s in some key areas, especially with the fastball and breaking stuff.
Still, there are areas for growth. Ryan averaged just eight strikeouts per nine innings and struggled with command, walking four batters per nine.
Those are numbers you’d expect from a young pitcher still learning how to harness his stuff. The good news?
The issue seems to be more about refinement than raw ability. His arsenal is already deep - six pitches, led by a high-velocity fastball that touched 98.3 MPH in 2024.
Now, he says he’s sitting comfortably in the 98-100 MPH range during recent live sessions, and he’s even hinted at adding a seventh pitch to the mix.
Of course, the first year back from Tommy John surgery is always a wild card. Both Ryan and Stone will have to prove they’re not just healthy, but sharp - and that’s no small task in spring training, where innings are limited and competition is fierce.
But Ryan’s upside gives him a leg up. If he shows the same electric stuff he flashed before the injury, it’ll be hard for the Dodgers to justify leaving him off the roster - especially with trade rumors already swirling around the fringes of the rotation.
This is the kind of roster battle that could shape the Dodgers’ season. With Sheehan’s consistency, Stone’s reliability, and Ryan’s electric potential, the team isn’t just choosing a sixth starter - they’re deciding who can help them win in October. And if Ryan’s comeback lives up to the hype, he might not just make the roster - he could become a difference-maker.