The Los Angeles Dodgers have run a six-starter rotation so far this season, and manager Dave Roberts explained his reasoning behind doing so.
The Dodgers, as usual, have a multitude of strong starters, and is one of the main drivers towards running their six-man rotation. That being said, it’s not the only one.
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“Giving those guys a good amount of recovery time is beneficial,” Roberts said. “It’s also a luxury that we have six really good starters. We can give those guys that optimal rest. And to their credit, they’re preparing, and each time, they feel like they’re chomping at the bit to get going. It’s nice that I feel like I can push them a little bit more, and they’re all recharged.”
The Dodgers have a much bigger need for rest than other teams, largely due to Shohei Ohtani’s designation as a two-way player. Their efforts with him have clearly paid off as well, as he has been one of MLB’s best pitchers so far in 2026.
He has a 0.82 ERA through nine starts, and has struck out 61 batters through 55 innings pitched. He’ll look to maintain his solid record when he makes his 10th start of the season against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday.
It’s not just Ohtani, either. The Dodgers pitching staff has been among the strongest in MLB so far this season.
May 12, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) reacts as he walks to the mound for a pitching change against the San Francisco Giants during the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn ImagesHow Has the Dodgers’ Rotation Performed So Far?
The Dodgers have the best starter ERA in the National League, and only have a higher ERA than the New York Yankees among their starters.
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They have a mark of 3.06, and trail the Yankees by just 0.02 points. The Milwaukee Brewers are the closest team behind them, with a 3.09 ERA.
Ohtani isn’t the only one performing exceptionally, as the entire rotation has impressed so far. Justin Wrobleski holds the second best ERA in the rotation at 2.61, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto also sits below the 3.00 mark. The scariest part about the Dodgers’ rotation is that they aren’t even at full strength, as Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell still have to return from injury.
The Dodgers’ six-man rotation has provided plenty of benefit since the Dodgers began putting their six-man rotation idea into practice, and they’re sure token rolling it out with the results they’ve been getting.
What do you think of the Dodgers’ six-man rotation? Should they continue running it despite the injuries they have?