Dodgers 2026 Season Preview: Can Los Angeles make history with three-peat?

The Dodgers’ modern-day dynasty is already cemented, with the club having won back-to-back World Series and three in the past six seasons.

Now, they are chasing history, trying to join the 1972-1974 Athletics and 1998-2000 Yankees as the only franchises in MLB’s expansion era (since 1961) to win three consecutive championships.

Such expectations might sound suffocating. Anything short of another title will be a failure.

Most important hitter: Kyle Tucker

The Dodgers roster is getting older, with seven of their nine projected starters in the lineup past the age of 30. That’s why the offseason signing of Kyle Tucker was so important. At 29, he still in the prime of his career. And by slotting into the No. 2 spot of the order, he will play a critical role, providing protection for Shohei Ohtani and setting the table for Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts behind him. The Dodgers think he can be an MVP-caliber player. He’s never had a better opportunity to prove it.

Most important pitcher: Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Without Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Dodgers don’t win last year’s World Series –– and might have even been in danger of missing the playoffs. They’ll have more talent around him this year, thanks to Edwin Díaz’s addition as closer and Shohei Ohtani’s return to full-time pitching duties. But Yamamoto has established himself as the team’s ace, making his performance (and health coming off a burdensome October workload) paramount for a team that struggled on the mound at times last season.

Bigger year than expected: Teoscar Hernandez

After becoming a fan favorite during his debut Dodgers season in 2024, Teoscar Hernández had a frustrating encore last year after signing a three-year extension. His defense was bad. His at-bat quality was lacking. And he wasn’t 100% healthy. However, he transformed his body this offseason, put up huge spring numbers and looks poised for a resurgent campaign; capable of a bounce-back year as an overlooked member of the team’s star-studded lineup.

Most likely to disappoint: Roki Sasaki

In some ways, Roki Sasaki helped save the Dodgers season by returning from a shoulder injury and starring as an emergency closer in the playoffs. However, there remain many questions about his return to starting pitching. Can he command his fastball? Can he find a third pitch? Can he live up to the lofty expectations that accompanied his arrival from Japan? That’s a lot for a 24-year-old with eight career MLB starts. More growing pains could be ahead.

Key call-up: River Ryan

While it won’t technically be his MLB debut, after he appeared in four games in 2024, River Ryan’s return from Tommy John surgery will mark a new beginning in his career. During his brief 2024 debut, the right-hander impressed with a 1.33 ERA. Now, he might be even better, having added 30 pounds during his rehab and improved his six-pitch repertoire. His workload will be limited this year, meaning he is likely to open in triple-A. But at some point, he’ll be counted on in the rotation. Hopes are high for how he’ll perform.

Biggest managerial decision

Already, Dave Roberts has indicated an eagerness to give his biggest, and oldest, stars more days off. The only problem: Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Max Muncy and others have long been loath to days on the bench. Thus, striking that workload balance will be an ongoing challenge for Roberts all year, as he tries to keep guys both fresh for the long haul and happy over the course of a long season.

Don’t be surprised if…

… The Dodgers are looking for a frontline starting pitcher at the trade deadline. The easiest way for this season to go wrong, after all, is if injuries ravage a rotation that was pushed to its physical limits during last year’s playoffs. And if that happens, the Dodgers have shown a willingness to be aggressive on the trade market for impact players. Having a top-ranked farm system will give them options too.

Sure to make fans grumble

Bullpen usage. One luxury of having a team as good as the Dodgers’ is that they can take the long view, and occasionally punt on winnable games to keep their roster –– and bullpen, specifically –– fresh for the end of the year. That means, some nights, conservative reliever decisions might lead to frustrating losses. But if it means the Dodgers have a healthier pitching staff come October, it’s a trade-off they’re willing to make.

Will make playoffs if…

… Everything goes anywhere close to expected, thanks to the vast margin for error their $400-plus million payroll will provide. Even before opening day, a 14th-consecutive postseason trip seems assured.

Will miss playoffs if…

… A meteor crashes into Earth, perhaps? Plenty can go wrong, from pitching injuries to bullpen struggles to underperformance from an aging lineup. But even in a worst-case scenario, the Dodgers should still be playing in October.

Prediction

105-57: Even while winning back-to-back World Series, the Dodgers have somewhat underperformed the past two years by not winning 100 games. That should change this year, with the team looking better equipped to handle the rigors of a 162-game marathon.

How their season will end

Without a third-straight World Series. Right now, it’s difficult to see any team stacking up with the Dodgers. Yet, Fangraphs’ computer model gives them only a 26.7% chance of winning it all. That’s still three times as good as the next closest contender. But it serves as a reminder that, in the crapshoot of a long year and unforgiving postseason format, even the best team is more likely to lose than not. So, while the Dodgers survived a World Series scare last year, odds are they eventually trip up at some point. It’s just hard to see when, or how, right now.

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