Los Angeles Dodgers General Manager Brandon Gomes has opened the door to utilizing a six- or even seven-man starting rotation for the 2026 season. This flexible approach is a calculated strategy to manage pitcher workloads and protect the star-studded but injury-prone arms as the club prepares for a grueling title defense aiming for a historic three-peat.
Gomes emphasized that while the traditional five-man rotation remains an option, flexibility will be key: “It’s certainly on the table, but it depends how things shake out.”
The Overwhelming Depth & Injury Concerns
The Dodgers enter 2026 with a potential rotation of six established pitchers, a rare “good problem to have,” but one that requires careful management:
| Pitcher | Status/Concern | Workload Management Strategy |
| Shohei Ohtani | Returning to normal pitching schedule; heavy workload in 2025 playoffs. | Will likely pitch on a six-man schedule or require fluid rest to ensure health. |
| Tyler Glasnow | Significant injury history; managed workload carefully in 2025. | Benefits most from extra rest provided by a six-man rotation. |
| Blake Snell | Healthy, but prone to high pitch counts. | Extra rest days help maintain his dominance deep into the season. |
| Yoshinobu Yamamoto | Healthy and proved durable in 2025. | Serves as the reliable anchor, but even he could benefit from a lighter load. |
| Roki Sasaki | Confirmed to return to the rotation; injury limited his 2025 starter innings. | Extra rest will aid his full transition back to a starting role. |
| Emmet Sheehan | Pitched well in both starter and bulk relief roles in 2025. | Ideal candidate for the sixth spot or as a swing starter, protecting the top five. |
Additionally, the Dodgers have injured arms like Gavin Stone and River Ryan returning, providing ready-made depth for injuries or spot starts, further enabling the larger rotation plan.
🔄 Weighing Trades and Roster Consolidation
The depth of the pitching staff creates a separate dilemma: roster spots are limited.
Gomes acknowledged that the Dodgers may need to pursue a consolidation trade this winter. With numerous high-upside arms (like Sheehan, Stone, and Ryan) vying for limited spots, their value as trade chips is high.
- Trade Rationale: The Dodgers could package one or two of these depth arms to acquire a player at a position of need (like a defensive outfielder or an elite reliever) without compromising their rotation safety net. The team is interested in controllable players like the Cardinals’ Brendan Donovan and the Guardians’ Steven Kwan.
Ultimately, the Dodgers’ 2026 plan is simple: sacrifice a degree of short-term regular-season efficiency for the goal of keeping their top arms fresh and healthy for the ultimate prize—winning their third consecutive World Series.
