The Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball are expected to assemble the strongest starting rotation in 2026. Several reasons were mentioned, among them the significant presence of Shohei Ohtani.
Dodgers news outlet "Dodgers Nation" said on the 15th (Korea time) that the Dodgers' 2026 starting rotation is expected to be "all-time great."
They said Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the World Series MVP pitcher who was the only member of the Dodgers' 2025 rotation to consistently do his part without leaving, is expected to show his best performance in 2026.
They also noted that Shohei Ohtani is finally preparing for his first full season of "two-way" play since joining the Dodgers. Veteran pitchers such as Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are also seeking to restore their reputations. They were not fully healthy in 2025 due to injuries.
They also highlighted young pitchers with potential, including Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki, who debuted in the big leagues in 2025, Emmett Sheehan, who returned from Tommy John surgery, Gavin Stone and River Ryan.
Although several reasons were mentioned, the factor most expected to make the Dodgers' rotation historically dominant is "pitcher" Ohtani.
Ohtani attracted a lot of attention as a "two-way" player from his big league debut with the Los Angeles Angels. In 2021 he started all 23 of his appearances, going 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA and 156 strikeouts, and in 2022 he started all 28 of his appearances, going 15-9 with a 2.33 ERA and 219 strikeouts.
In 2023 he started all 23 games as a starting pitcher, going 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA and 184 strikeouts. He spent six seasons with the Angels and recorded 38 wins. During that time he was named American League MVP twice, in 2021 and 2023, and as a hitter he produced remarkable seasons with 46 home runs and 100 RBIs, and 44 home runs and 95 RBIs, respectively.
He signed with the Dodgers as a free agent ahead of the 2024 season. He agreed to a 10-year, $700 million contract. It was a mega-contract exceeding 1 trillion won. However, in his first season after moving to the Dodgers he focused only on hitting. It was a rehabilitation season after elbow surgery. He resumed "two-way" play in mid-2025 and is preparing for a full "two-way" season in 2026.
Dodgers Nation noted that although Ohtani has played eight seasons in the major leagues, he has won the ERA title only once. It was in 2022. That year was his best as a pitcher. He posted a 2.33 ERA over 166 innings. His strikeout-to-walk ratio was also 26.5%, ranking first in the major leagues, they said, drawing attention to seasons when Ohtani is a "pitcher."
The outlet continued, "After completing rehabilitation from his second elbow surgery, Ohtani cautiously prepared to return. Late in last season's regular season he gradually increased his pitching innings. In his final three starts he recorded 14 2/3 scoreless innings, 18 strikeouts and two walks. Notably, he threw five no-hit innings against Philadelphia. In the season finale against Arizona he delivered dominant pitching. Having had a healthy offseason, Ohtani is expected to return in full condition in 2026," the outlet said.
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