LOS ANGELES — As the second half of the 2025 MLB season gets underway, the Dodgers find themselves in a familiar position: at the top of the NL West, loaded with talent, and staring down the expectations of a World Series repeat. But this isn’t the same Dodgers team we saw in October 2024 — it’s deeper, potentially more dangerous, and about to get healthier in the one area they’ve needed it most: the pitching staff.

The rotation was always going to be a work in progress in the first half. With Shohei Ohtani only hitting for the first few months and with five starts under his belt (and still doing it at an MVP level). With big-name arms like Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, who were nursing injuries, the Dodgers have leaned heavily on a patchwork staff and bullpen to get them here. Glasnow made his first start since April last week on Wednesday and looked like he didn’t miss a beat. Resilience has paid off. Now, as the second half begins, Snell is coming.

Snell and Glasnow: The X-Factors

Former Cy Young winner Snell is expected to return in the upcoming weeks, and while his first-half absence was felt, the Dodgers resisted panic. They knew what they were waiting for. A healthy Snell gives L.A. an ace-level arm capable of dominating October lineups — a lefty with wipeout stuff and playoff experience. If he’s sharp by mid-August, look for him to be carefully ramped up toward a postseason peak.

Snell started twice this season but did not make an impact on this team, which is a significant reason why he will rejuvenate the starting rotation.

Glasnow’s return is perhaps even more intriguing. When healthy, Glasnow has shown flashes of being one of the best pitchers in baseball. The question will be usage and timing. Both arms are coming off injuries that require workload management. Expect Dave Roberts and the front office to monitor innings carefully, perhaps even piggybacking starters or using short stints late in the season to ensure freshness come playoff time.

Then there’s Clayton Kershaw — ageless, reemerging, and quietly rewriting his final chapter. After a late start to the season, Kershaw has looked vintage at times. He’s not the flamethrower of his 2010s peak, but he’s mixing speeds and locating with brilliance. More importantly, his playoff experience and calm leadership give this team exactly what it lacked during last year’s stumble: postseason poise.

Although Ohtani, Snell, Glasnow, Kershaw, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Emett Sheehan, and Dustin May are in contention, injuries could arise again—depth may be needed if they fall short.

The Bigger Picture: October or Bust

With the rotation stabilizing for now, the Dodgers’ biggest challenge may not be their opponents — it’s managing expectations and health. This team is built to win 100 or more games, but their true test is in October, when matchups matter, and fatigue becomes the X-factor.

The bullpen has been reliable, although Tanner Scott has experienced a few blown saves while anchoring the ninth inning. Young pitchers like Ben Casparius and Jack Dreyer have contributed, and Anthony Banda has stepped up in critical situations. With the return of Snell and a healthy Glasnow, the pitching staff, which has been managing well, suddenly looks formidable again. Glasnow is set to make his second start since returning on Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium as the team kicks off the second half of the season.

If the Dodgers can stay healthy and find the right mix of innings down the stretch, they need to minimize their fielding errors, as they have committed 48, ranking 11th in the league. But they’re the favorites to repeat. And they’ll be doing it not just with stars, but with a rotation that’s battle-tested, finally healthy, and — when clicking — the most dangerous group in the league.

Another key to the Dodgers’ success will come from Ohtani, who has now become the two-way player the Dodgers invested $700 million in. After five starts, Ohtani is gradually building up to pitching up to five innings per outing. So far, he has pitched two one-inning outings, two two-inning outings, and one three-inning outing. The Dodgers hope that by the time October arrives, he will be electrifying on the mound without any restrictions.

Ohtani also has 27 multi-run games, the most any player has had at the All-Star break.

Ohtani has scored multiple runs in 28.4% (27/95) of his games this season, on pace to be the highest percentage in a season with 50+ games played since Jimmie Foxx in 1939 (29.8%).

There is ongoing speculation about the Dodgers being active at the trade deadline. They may look to acquire another high-leverage reliever or a controllable starter to further enhance their rotation depth. However, if Snell and Glasnow remain healthy, the team might not require additional reinforcements, especially with the possibility of Roki Sasaki returning later this season. Sasaki has been throwing bullpen sessions without any discomfort or pain in his shoulder, which was the issue that led to his placement on the injured list. 

The Dodgers’ offense has exhibited some weaknesses throughout the lineup in the first half of the season. They could consider making an upgrade in the outfield. Michael Conforto has struggled significantly this season, with a batting average of just .184. Meanwhile, Mookie Betts’ performance has declined while playing shortstop; he is currently batting .244 with 11 home runs and 45 RBI. An upgrade in either the outfield or infield would allow Betts to shift back to his position in the outfield and potentially move him up to the leadoff spot, where he has had the most success.

At least eight teams—including the Dodgers, Phillies, Padres, Mets, Royals—are reportedly exploring trade interest in Luis Robert Jr from the Chicago White Sox. 

If the Dodgers believe they can unlock 2023 form, Robert comes at a lower cost than peak talent. If he continues slumping, LA can absorb his season and decline the 2026 option—a low-risk gamble

Batting a career-worst .190/.275/.325 with an OPS+ of 67 and just 9 homers through 79 games. Hamstring issues led to an IL stint in late June; he returned July 8 .Despite overall slumps, he remains a threat on the bases (22-of-28 SB) .

Robert Jr. is a classic high-reward, high-variance trade piece—struggling this season but brimming with tools and upside. The Dodgers’ history of reclamation projects makes him a logical fit if they’re willing to pay moderate prospect cost. If Robert gets hot post-trade, he could emerge as the deadline’s biggest bargain.

Don’t be surprised if the Dodgers add another veteran bat or a defensive outfielder in July, not because they need it, but because that’s what championship teams do: fine-tune, even when ahead.

The second half is about pacing. The Dodgers don’t need to win 110 games. They need to enter October with their rotation healthy, their bullpen aligned, and their stars rested. There’s no sugarcoating it: the Dodgers are expected to win the World Series. Not contend, not fall just short — win. That’s the bar for this franchise, especially after the aggressive moves made over the past 18 months.