Dodgers followers have loads to be enthusiastic about in 2026, particularly since every season brings surprises and sudden challenges come up. Nevertheless, the Dodgers have excelled at navigating these moments.
At a number of factors in 2025, Los Angeles’ odds of profitable the title appeared shaky — specifically, the chilly stretches that uncovered the lineup’s vulnerabilities and the blown wins attributable to poor bullpen performances.
The beginning rotation ended up getting wholesome — a real shock for the Dodgers in current reminiscence — and gamers like Miguel Rojas delivered clutch hits and defensive performs.
What is going to 2026 carry? Listed here are 5 storylines to be careful for.
Shohei Ohtani Wins The MVP and Cy Younger?
Shohei Ohtani, even when he continues to do his two-way play model, has all of the capabilities to win the Cy Younger and the Nationwide League MVP.
If he stayed wholesome all season lengthy, he would simply be a contender, becoming a member of an unique membership. Solely eight gamers have gained each awards in the identical season, together with lately retired Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw.
The Japanese sensation could be the primary two-way participant to realize the feat as an elite pitcher and hitter, including one other stamp to his one-of-one profession.
He would additionally turn out to be the primary participant in MLB historical past to win two or extra MVP awards and a Cy Younger.
Logically, Ohtani may have to focus extra on his pitching and have his hitting take much less of a spotlight, however he has been a participant who has damaged reasoning time and time once more.
Andrew Friedman’s Subsequent Nice Below-The-Radar Transfer
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman is among the brightest minds within the sport. He minimize his tooth by discovering hidden gems with the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Rays didn’t have a great payroll, however Friedman constructed a number of profitable rosters by means of figuring out market inefficiencies and capitalizing on the trendy analytics revolution.
Since becoming a member of the Dodgers, he has introduced in gamers like Max Muncy, Enrique Hernandez, Tommy Edman, Justin Turner, Wealthy Hill, Brandon Morrow, and Tyler Anderson, amongst others.
Most years have featured an undervalued gem like these surfaces, and 2026 ought to be no completely different, contemplating Friedman’s observe file.
Potential Prospect Name-Ups
The Dodgers boast probably the greatest farm programs once more in 2026, and this yr, they might faucet into their pipeline as soon as once more.
The Dodgers simply went by means of back-to-back World Collection runs, and their roster is getting older, giving all of them the extra motive to depend on the minor league ranks and work them into the fold.
Outfielders Jose De Paula, Eduardo Quintero, and Zyhir Hope are names which were talked about throughout the broader baseball panorama for some time now as potential future stars, and contemplating the group’s lack of infield depth getting into the yr, they might get greater than a fair proportion of possibilities to get constant enjoying time.
Different names of word embrace Zachary Root, Adam Serwinowski, and Jackson Ferris, all of whom may get by means of within the main league group sooner or later.
The Return of Brusdar Graterol
Proper-handed reliever Brusdar Graterol missed the whole 2025 season after going by means of offseason shoulder surgical procedure on the finish of 2024.
After lacking out on one other World Collection title, Graterol is ready to be prepared for the beginning of Spring Coaching, and hopefully, he can ramp up for the start of the marketing campaign and not using a setback.
The reliever has a reliably elite arm out of the pen when he has stayed wholesome, setting the Dodgers up in high-leverage spots.
He has earned 3.4 bWAR in 5 years with the Dodgers by means of 178 appearances. Los Angeles added him within the Kenta Maeda commerce, one other spectacular discover from Friedman that ought to proceed reaping rewards when he returns.
New-Look Outfield
The Dodgers’ two most important areas that want enchancment are the bullpen and the outfield. Edwin Diaz’s signing addresses a type of areas, however the entrance workplace has not made a transfer for an outfielder but.
For anybody who felt annoyed with a number of the defensive performances from the outfield or Michael Conforto’s incapacity to hit at a league-average degree, a brand new outfielder or two will likely be a welcome arrival.
Whether or not they come within the type of a prospect talked about above or an offseason addition, competitors for Andy Pages and Teoscar Hernandez may assist maintain them on their toes.
Hernandez has by no means been an incredible fielder, however he took a large step down from his typical degree final season.
On the similar time, Pages had an total good season that ended disappointingly, as he couldn’t hit the ball within the postseason.
Photograph Credit score: Denis Poroy-Imagn Photographs
