The Los Angeles Dodgers are once again facing a mountain of injury concerns, with their 2026 season already seeing a significant number of players sidelined. This isn’t a new challenge for the team, though, as they saw 34 players miss time on the injured list back in 2023, and that pattern continued with 28 different players hitting the IL in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons. This year, the trend is unfortunately holding strong, setting a tough tone right from the start of the regular season.
Dodgers’ Early Season IL Woes Hit Hard
The sheer volume of players on the injured list has been an ongoing story for the Dodgers. Already during the regular season, a minimum of 15 days for pitchers and 10 for position players means every IL stint is a serious roster shake-up. Even before Opening Day, the team placed both Evan Phillips and Kiké Hernández on the 60-day injured list, a move that opened crucial space on their 40-man roster. Things didn’t get easier when Opening Day arrived, as six more Dodgers found themselves on the injured list, including big names like Blake Snell and Tommy Edman, adding to the growing list of sidelined talent.
Key Players Sidelined and The Battle for the Roster
The list of players battling injuries throughout 2026 is extensive. Bobby Miller has been dealing with shoulder soreness since March 24, starting his rehab in August. Gavin Stone, another right-hander, hit the IL a day later with shoulder inflammation. We’ve also seen Jake Cousins undergo Tommy John surgery and Brusdar Graterol face initial shoulder surgery in March, only to need back surgery in late May. More recently, Andy Pages is expected out for 4-5 weeks with a left hand fracture suffered in August, and Roki Sasaki is facing a right middle finger blister that dates back to late August. It’s a revolving door, and the team needs players to step up.
Managing this kind of turnover is brutal. Take Tommy Edman, for instance, who had right ankle surgery on March 25 and didn’t return until June 16, missing 73 games and requiring 14 rehab games. Or Kiké Hernández, who first had left elbow surgery in February and came back in May, only to land back on the IL just two days later with a left oblique strain, missing another 51 games. These significant absences, along with players like Mookie Betts (oblique strain, 32 games out) and Tyler Glasnow (back spasms, 94 games out), highlight the constant battle for the Dodgers just to keep a healthy roster on the field. The big question is how they keep this ship steady with so many key pieces consistently out of action.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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