The Los Angeles Dodgers enter the 2026 MLB season looking to accomplish something few teams in baseball history have achieved: a third consecutive World Series title. After winning back-to-back championships, the Dodgers remain one of the most talented rosters in baseball. Several key storylines, however, could determine whether Los Angeles can complete a historic three-peat in 2026.
The Dodgers have the tools to make a three-peat happen, there’s no doubt about it. Making it to the World Series three seasons in a row is no easy feat, especially considering how much can go wrong in a 162-game campaign. As a team with something to lose, Los Angeles seems to be adopting a by-all-means-necessary approach in 2026.
Shohei Ohtani Could Become The Dodgers’ Two-Way X-Factor in 2026 
Feb 21, 2026; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani against the Los Angeles Angels during a spring training game at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The best player on the planet seems to be getting better with age, a scary sight for the Dodgers’ opponents heading into 2026. Shohei Ohtani’s first two seasons with Los Angeles have been historic, including a .282 average and 55 home runs during the 2025 season. The stellar campaign was one of his best yet, leading to his third MVP award in three years.
The two-way player is also on track to contribute to the team as a pitcher full-time in 2026 after limited appearances coming off Tommy John surgery in 2025. While he has not pitched consistently since 2023, the 31-year-old seems to be ready to do so for the Dodgers in 2026. The ability to deploy Ohtani as a pitcher gives Los Angeles some options, especially considering the injuries the staff has suffered in the past few years.
Kyle Tucker Reshapes the Dodgers Lineup in 2026 
Feb 24, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker against the Cleveland Guardians during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Dodgers have developed a knack for signing some of the biggest names on the free-agent market, a trend that continued with the signing of Kyle Tucker in January. He, 29, spent seven years with the Houston Astros and one with the Chicago Cubs before landing in Los Angeles on a four-year, $240 million contract.
The left fielder had a bit of a down year in his lone campaign with the Cubs, but the Dodgers are hopeful Tucker can return to form. Tucker is expected to slot into the two-hole behind Ohtani, which means that Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman will have to slide down to the three and four holes, respectively.
When asked about the lineup changes, Betts told SportsNet LA, “My role is a little bit different. I have to drive in more runs, be a little bit more aggressive. I can’t really work my way into games like I used to leading off.” The changes come with the intention to improve the offense at the top of the order, an asset Tucker can provide Los Angeles in 2026.
Will The Dodgers Use A Six-Man Rotation in 2026? 
Feb 27, 2026; Scottsdale, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) throws against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
The rotation was one of the Dodgers’ biggest questions coming into Spring Training in 2026, and the answers haven’t gotten much clearer. The team has an artillery of arms at the ready rotation-wise, and they could opt to keep a sixth man on tap early in 2026.
The decision would most likely be based on the performance of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Dodgers’ No. 1 option and probable Opening Day starter. Yamamoto, in his third year with Los Angeles, typically pitches on six days’ rest, a model the team will most likely opt into again in 2026. Given how the season is set up, a six-man rotation is the best course of action for both Yamamoto and the Dodgers’ success.
With Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow acting as the first three starters in the rotation, a handful of pitchers will compete for the remaining three spots. The pitchers most likely to slot into the rotation consist of Emmett Sheehan, Gavin Stone, and River Ryan, giving the Dodgers a nice mix of youth and experience in 2026.
End Of My Los Angeles Dodgers Rant
A three-peat is one of the hardest things to accomplish in sports, especially in today’s sports landscape. The last major North American sports team to three-peat was the Los Angeles Lakers in the early 2000s, and the Dodgers could become the most recent in 2026. It will take a lot from the team to get back to the World Series, but the moves they made and the way they’ve approached 2026 have the Dodgers ready for the challenge.