National League West 2026 Preview: Los Angeles Dodgers

After becoming the first team to win back-to-back World Series since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees, the Los Angeles Dodgers are trying to do something that hasn't been done since... the very same Yankees.

The Dodgers brought back of its postseason roster and added a couple of superstars to its stable full of star players. There is little question that as the 2026 season begins, the Dodgers are not only the clear-cut favorite in the NL West—it figures to be a three-way battle for second place between the San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks—but the best team in all of baseball. So the path back to the World Series, as of now, appears fairly clear. Only one other team since the Yankees of the 1950s (five in a row) has won three straight: the 1972-74 Oakland A's.

Dodgers' Notable Offseason Moves

There wasn't a whole lot the Dodgers had to do this offseason despite losing a handful of players to free agency (Michael Kopech, Michael Conforto, Kirby Yates, Andrew Heaney) or retirement (Clayton Kershaw). None of those players had a key role in the postseason.

Still, the Dodgers did what the Dodgers do: upgrade. First was adding three-time Reliever of the Year Edwin Diaz via free agency (three years, $69 million), then landing the top player on the open market in right fielder Kyle Tucker (four years, $240 million). Diaz will fortify a Dodgers bullpen that was shaky at times in finishing games, while Tucker brings a big bat to an outfield that underproduced in 2025.

L.A. also brought back infielder Miguel Rojas (one year, $5.5 million), injured infielder-outfielder Enrique Hernandez (one year, $4.5 million) and injured right-handed reliever Evan Phillips (one year, $6.5 million), while giving third baseman Max Muncy a one-year extension through 2027. The Dodgers did trade away left-handed reliever Anthony Banda, shipping him to the Minnesota Twins.

Projected Dodgers Lineup

1. Shohei Ohtani, DH
2. Kyle Tucker, RF
3. Mookie Betts, SS
4. Freddie Freeman, 1B
5. Will Smith, C
6. Max Muncy, 3B
7. Teoscar Hernandez, LF
8. Andy Pages, CF
9. Miguel Rojas, 2B

Adding Tucker to this top four, much less this lineup, seems unfair to opposing pitchers. He never felt like he got into a groove with the Chicago Cubs, but still produced a .266/.377/.464 slash line with 23 homers, 78 RBIs and 25 stolen bases. Hitting behind Ohtani and ahead of Betts and Freeman could yield a 30-30 season from Tucker. Betts was disappointing offensively in 2025 as his season started with an illness that sapped a bunch of weight and he battled the entire season. However, he did amazing play Gold Glove-caliber defense at shortstop. Rojas, normally a bench player, is the surprising starter at second base until Tommy Edman (right ankle surgery) returns, probably in late April. Alex Freeland will also get time at second base.

Projected Dodgers Rotation

1. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, RH
2. Tyler Glasnow, RH
3. Shohei Ohtani, RH
4. Emmet Sheehan, RH
5. Roki Sasaki, RH

What else can you say about Yamamoto that hasn't already been said? He leads a rotation that will have a full season of Ohtani, who was very good on the mound in his gradual comeback from Tommy John surgery in 2025. Ohtani, who had a 1.90 FIP in 14 starts last year, will continue to take things easy in the early going, with a designated piggyback (perhaps Justin Wrobleski). Sheehan begins in the rotation as left-hander Blake Snell (left shoulder discomfort) is not expected back until perhaps early May. The Dodgers had the third-fewest innings from their starters in 2025, so a healthy Ohtani should help improve that number. If there is a question in this group, it is whether Sasaki has learned enough from his struggles last season that landed him in the minors. Following his postseason success as a reliever, he now gets another shot in the rotation.

The Verdict

Last year's Dodgers had the worst regular-season record at 93-69 since they had 92 wins in 2018. That gave them the No. 3 seed in the NL postseason, but that was certainly not an obstacle as they steamrolled through their three series until the thrilling seven-game World Series triumph over the Toronto Blue Jays. The only thing that truly matters for the Dodgers is winning the trophy at the end of the season. This roster is built for that to happen.