NFL
By: George Lopez
The Los Angeles Dodgers enter the 2025 season looking to defend their world championship. After winning the World Series, the Dodgers spent the offseason adding to the roster to make another run at the World Series. Health will be a key for the Dodgers as they look to become the first team to repeat as World Series champions since the 1998-2000 Yankees.
Early in the offseason, the Dodgers bolstered their starting pitching staff by signing 2-time Cy Young award winner Blake Snell. The Dodgers have announced that Snell will be the starting pitcher on Thursday when the MLB season officially opens. The Dodgers will begin the season with a 5-man starting rotation. Joining Snell in the rotation will be Tyler Glasnow, Dustin May, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki. Shohei Ohtani is expected to join the rotation sometime in May. When Ohtani joins the rotation, the Dodgers will go with a 6-man rotation. Clayton Kershaw will begin the season on the 60-day IL. When Kershaw comes off the IL, it is expected that he will join the rotation, with May moving to the bullpen.
The Dodgers relied on their bullpen during their championship run last season and will look to do the same this season. To bolster the bullpen, the Dodgers signed Tanner Scott. Manager Dave Roberts announced that Scott would get the bulk of the save opportunities early in the season. Scott joins a bullpen that features Blake Treinen, Alex Vesia, and Kirby Yates. Treinen, Vesia, and Yates give Roberts multiple options in the closer role. Tony Gonsolin is beginning the season on the 15-day IL. When he returns, Gonsolin will be used in a long relief role and will be used in spot starts during the season. Michael Kopech, who is dealing with shoulder impingement, will begin the season on the IL. When he returns, Kopech can be used in multiple situations, from the 6th inning to the 9th inning. With the bullpen the Dodgers starters should not be expected to go more than 6 innings in a game.
A key offseason move the Dodgers made was the resigning of Teoscar Hernandez and Kiki Hernandez. Teoscar will be moved to right field this season as the team signed free agent Michael Conforto and he will play left field. Tommy Edman, who was projected to be the starting center fielder, will start the season at 2nd base. With Edman moving the infield, Andy Pages is projected to be the starting center fielder. Kike Hernandez and Chris Taylor provide depth as they have the ability to play multiple positions. The Dodgers projected starting lineup:
Shohei Ohtani. DH
Mookie Betts. SS
Freddie Freeman. 1st
Teoscar Hernandez RF
Will Smith C
Max Muncy 3rd
Michael Conforto. LF
Tommy Edman 2nd
Andy Pages CF
Mookie Betts is making the move to be the full-time shortstop. Miguel Rojas was resigned this offseason and will serve as Betts backup at short. Edman also will be used a shortstop during the season. Freddie Freeman, recovering from offseason ankle surgery, anchors the infield and will look to build on his World Series MVP performance. Kiki Hernandez can play all 4 infields positions and Chris Taylor can play 2nd, 3rd and shortstop to give starters a rest.
The Dodgers enter the 2025 with the goal of repeating as world champions. The team signed key free agents and resigned key players to bolster the lineup. The health of the position players and pitching staff will play a major role in the team’s success. With the roster the Dodgers have this season, talks have begun as to whether they can challenge the 116 wins by the 2001 Mariners. The Dodgers are not concerned about setting that record. Their goal is to get into the playoffs as healthy as possible and make a deep run in the postseason.
