Listen, it’s early April and we’re just getting into the swing of things, but the Los Angeles Dodgers are already making waves with a pitching rotation that ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel just ranked as the best in baseball. And get this: they’re pulling it off even with Shohei Ohtani not pitching. Seriously, Ohtani got sidelined from the mound back in early July, and with his return not going great, he’s not expected to pitch for them again this season. He’ll slot back into the DH role once he’s off the IL, but apparently, they don’t even need his arm on the bump to be the best.
This Core Four Is Straight Up Unfair
McDaniel’s report isn’t shy about it, stating the Dodgers are “still tops in this category , even with the currently injured Shohei Ohtani likely not pitching again this season , and by a pretty good margin.” Think about that. They could roll out four starters in a seven-game series, and each of those guys would be better than the ace on five or six other playoff teams. It’s wild. Tarik Skubal and Yoshinobu Yamamoto are their absolute best, no doubt the Game 1 and Game 2 starters if they had their pick. But then you’ve got Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell, two incredible pitchers with super high ceilings who could easily be the No. 1 for teams like the San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, or Chicago White Sox. That’s a lineup of pitchers that’s just absurdly good.
Depth That’s Just Showing Off
You’d think that four-man rotation would be enough to earn the top spot, right? But the Dodgers aren’t stopping there. Their depth is flat-out ridiculous. Justin Wrobleski is an incredible No. 5 starter for them. And guys like Kris Bubic and Emmett Sheehan? They probably won’t even start a playoff game, but they’d be solid No. 4 starters on most other playoff teams in the league. For the Dodgers, those two are likely going to be key pieces in the bullpen. Oh, and don’t forget Roki Sasaki, who’s set to return to the bullpen in October as this squad tries to snag their third straight title. They’re rocking eight starting pitching options that are legit enough to start a playoff game, and nobody would bat an eye. It’s an unbelievably deep rotation, and that’s without Ohtani ever touching the mound. No other team even comes close. We’re talking about a team built to go deep, and they’ve got the arms to prove it.
This team is clearly gunning for another championship, and with that kind of pitching, they’re going to be a force all season. Get ready to watch these guys dominate.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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