The Dodgers have won the last two World Series and are heavy favorites to return to the playoffs yet again. As the Dodgers try to become the first MLB team in 28 years to win three championships in a row, all of the authors at True Blue LA look ahead to the 2026 season, on the eve of opening day.
Let’s get to the predictions.
Eric Stephen: This is probably the best Dodgers lineup of my lifetime, with plenty of quality depth. The addition of Kyle Tucker puts them over the top. They have depth on the pitching side too, even with the inevitable handful of arms on the injured list at any given time.
Andy Lane Chapman: Last season everyone wanted to crown them 120-game winners. I think they’ll do slightly better than last year overall, and will still have that head-scratching stretch where nothing goes right.
Michael Elizondo: This team could go 116-46 and romp to 11-0 in the postseason as the top seed. But that outcome would require both everything going right and the naysayers being right about the competitive balance of the sport. When this team coasted last year, it was rough to watch – until October. Assuming good health, I expect more of the same. The Dodgers will romp in October beating the Seattle Mariners in five largely uncompetitive games to the enraged howls of the league.
Dodgers 2026 record projections
Jacob Macofsky: Fresh off of two consecutive World Series championships, the Dodgers ensured they had no weaknesses by acquiring high end talent at positions of need. In a division where the Dodgers continue to remain supreme, the other three playoff hopeful teams know that it’s a race for a Wild Card spot. The Dodgers know what the ultimate goal is, so their priority doesn’t concern how the fare in the regular season, although I do see them hitting the century-mark in wins for the first time since 2023.
Estevão Maximo: It’s a tad strange to talk of positive regression having won the World Series in the last two seasons. Nevertheless, even before accounting for the upgrades of Kyle Tucker and Edwin Díaz, it’s difficult not to predict a better outlook for a team that only had one full healthy season from a starting pitcher last year—one that also saw a relatively pedestrian hitting performance from the likes of Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernández.
Stacie Wheeler: The back-to-back World Series champion Dodgers added even more talent to their already stacked roster with the off-season signings of Kyle Tucker and Edwin Díaz. The Dodgers, deep with talent, will surely hit some rough patches in 2026. However, their experience will help them overcome the bumps along the way when they make a run for an unprecedented three-peat in 2026.
Particular games we’re looking forward to
Andy Lane Chapman: The Dodgers play in Detroit on my 50th birthday. I predict I will decide to do something else that day instead of driving to Detroit and will miss a Tarik Skubal/Shohei Ohtani head-to-head matchup in person.
Michael Elizondo: My itinerary is what I’m looking forward to completing. Dates that jump out include May 1 at St. Louis (always look forward to first getting on the road), May 23 at Milwaukee (trying to out Vassegh David Vassegh by doing Bernie’s Slide and enjoy the game with Molly Knight’s contingent) and July 20 in Philadelphia (if everything goes right, that’s MLB stadium 30 in six seasons).
Jacob Macofsky: The one game I’m looking forward to seeing in person is on April 25, when the Dodgers host the Chicago Cubs. It’ll not only be Roki Sasaki’s bobblehead night, but it’ll be Kyle Tucker’s first series against the Cubs since signing, and a duel between former Astros teammates: him and Alex Bregman. I’ve also seen 22 out of 30 teams play in person, and, somehow, the Cubs have always alluded me.
Estevão Maximo: Watch as many games as possible.
Stacie Wheeler: I’m excited to go to my first game of the season at Dodger Stadium on April 13 vs. the New York Mets.
Players we’re keeping our eye on
Eric Stephen: Emmet Sheehan was dominant over the last two months of 2025, having fully recovered from Tommy John surgery. The Dodgers just had all four workhorses atop the rotation healthy and thriving in October. This year, Sheehan gets an extended run to put up a strong full season.
Andy Lane Chapman: So many players are heading into this season finally healthy again. I’m going to take the slimmed-down Max Muncy. The Dodgers continue to re-sign him for a reason, and he’s going to have one of his better seasons this year as a ‘thank you’ and to prove it to himself and the team that’s he’s still one of the top half of third basemen in the league. Also, he can do a lot of damage now further down in the lineup due to Kyle Tucker’s addition.
Los Angeles, CA – March 15 : Los Angeles Dodger third basemen Max Muncy (13) runs to second base during the third inning of a MLB spring training against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium on Sunday, March 22, 2026 in Anahiem , CA. (Photo by Ronaldo Bolaños/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Michael Elizondo: Roki Sasaki has been strangely mercurial on the mound. The sooner Sasaki figures it out, the easier the Dodgers’ regular season will be. Mookie Betts figured out how to play well at shortstop well last year. But hit worse than Cesar Izturis. While Betts had justification last year and has expressed confidence this year about returning to MVP form, I find myself skeptical. There’s multiple years left on Betts’ deal. I’ll happily set the bar at “don’t be an offensive liability in October,” which seems unfair until one remembers the crazy discourse arising from Game 3 of the World Series about changing the rules about intentional walks, which are fine.
Jacob Macofsky: Kyle Tucker is the one name I’m keeping my eye on for 2026. He provides a much-needed defensive facelift in the outfield and he is slated to be the No. 2 hitter in a very deep lineup full of former MVPs and All Stars. He’s a power-speed threat right in the physical prime of his career.
Estevão Maximo: I’ll leave the Sheehan breakout watch for the masses, instead focusing on the sophomore blossoming. A term I’ve coined to describe the bounce-back campaign from Tanner Scott, now somewhat away from the spotlight, with Díaz spearheading this bullpen.
Stacie Wheeler: Sasaki will have my attention in 2026. Dave Roberts has the young right-hander in the starting rotation to open the season, but there’s a good chance he’ll shift to a high-leverage bullpen role or perhaps a hybrid starter-reliever if his command issues persist.
These predictions are guaranteed to be 100-percent accurate.
Eric Stephen: Andy Pages will hit two home runs on Monday, May 22 against the Twins in Minneapolis. Tanner Scott will strike out 86 batters during the regular season. Kyle Tucker will have three hits on May 5 in Houston against one of his former teams.
Michael Elizondo: The Alex Freeland Experience will resolve itself by Memorial Day. Landon Knack will retain his frequent flier king champion status. Ben Casparius will somehow lead the team in three-inning saves.
Jacob Macofsky: Shohei Ohtani last season homered in the home opener against the Detroit Tigers and in the regular season finale against the Seattle Mariners. I see him doing the same thing, this time with his final regular season home run being No. 56.
Estevão Maximo: Two Dodgers starters will record 15-strikeout games this season, something that has never happened in the history of this franchise. Kyle Tucker will steal no more than 13 bags in a healthy season.
Stacie Wheeler: Alex Freeland will hit two home runs in a game. Andy Pages has a big first half and is selected to the All-Star team. Edwin Díaz strikes out Juan Soto when they face off for the first time this April.