MLB

2025 Los Angeles Dodgers Season Preview: Chasing History with a Superteam

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By
Colin Lynch
Author photo
Colin Lynch Sports Editor

Colin Lynch covers the NFL, MLB and WNBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the New England Patriots. His sports coverage has been featured on The Sports Daily and Basketball Insiders, as well as FanSided's Chowder & Champions. A New Hampshire native and former D1 baseball player at St. John's University, Colin was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2008 and enjoyed a four-year professional baseball career.

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Published28 Feb 2025

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2025 Los Angeles Dodgers Season Preview: Chasing History with a Superteam

The Los Angeles Dodgers aren’t just aiming to defend their 2024 World Series title—they’re chasing history. It has been more than two decades since an MLB team won back-to-back championships (the 2000-01 Yankees), and if any team is built to break that streak, it’s this one.

They didn’t just reload this offseason—they went all in. Armed with a roster overflowing with star power, the Dodgers enter spring training in Arizona with the weight of expectation and a singular mission: Win another World Series.

An Offseason of Blockbuster Moves

The Dodgers were not satisfied after winning 100 games and hoisting the trophy. Instead, they made bold moves to strengthen both their rotation and bullpen, ensuring they have the depth to withstand the marathon of a full season and another deep postseason run.

Key Additions:

  • Roki Sasaki – The 23-year-old Japanese phenom, considered the No. 1 prospect in baseball, signed a minor-league contract with a $6.5 million signing bonus. If he had waited a year, he could have commanded a $300M+ deal like Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Instead, he joins a rotation already loaded with elite arms.
  • Blake Snell – The two-time Cy Young winner inked a five-year, $182M contract. When he’s at his best, he’s one of the most dominant pitchers in the game.
  • Tanner Scott – The left-handed closer, dubbed the “Ohtani Killer”, signed a four-year, $72M deal. He anchors an already elite bullpen, adding another late-inning weapon to manager Dave Roberts’ arsenal.

Los Angeles Dodgers Preview: Offense

If there’s one thing money can buy, it’s an unstoppable lineup—and the Dodgers’ offense remains one of the most dangerous in baseball.

  • 1st in slugging percentage (.462)
  • 1st in wOBA (.347)
  • 1st in wRC+ (116)
  • 2nd in runs scored (833, behind Arizona)

And this year? They might be even better.

Projected Lineup:

  1. Mookie Betts, SS
  2. Freddie Freeman, 1B
  3. Shohei Ohtani, DH
  4. Teoscar Hernández, RF
  5. Max Muncy, 3B
  6. Will Smith, C
  7. Tommy Edman, CF
  8. Michael Conforto, LF
  9. Hye-seong Kim, 2B

The Big Changes

  • Hye-seong Kim replaces Gavin Lux at second base – An elite defensive player with a great contact bat, Kim brings more plate discipline to a lineup that struggled with strikeouts last season.
  • Michael Conforto takes over in left field – The Dodgers hope he can stay healthy and provide the power Jason Heyward lacked.
  • Tommy Edman becomes a full-time center fielder – Fresh off an NLCS MVP run, Edman’s gold glove defense and speed make him a key piece in an already loaded lineup.

And then there’s Ohtani, who, even without pitching, is projected to hit 30+ home runs with a .900 OPS. With Max Muncy back healthy, the Dodgers’ offense should be a nightmare for opposing pitchers once again.

Los Angeles Dodgers Preview: Pitching

The rotation is stacked on paper—but the biggest challenge will be keeping it healthy.

Projected Rotation:

  1. Blake Snell
  2. Yoshinobu Yamamoto
  3. Tyler Glasnow
  4. Bobby Miller
  5. Roki Sasaki (midseason debut expected)

Other rotation candidates: Clayton Kershaw (recovering from shoulder surgery), Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, Landon Knack

The Big Questions

  • Snell’s consistency – Can he maintain his dominant second-half form from last season (1.24 ERA)?
  • Yamamoto’s durability – After struggling with injuries in 2024, is he ready for a full MLB season?
  • Glasnow’s health – He’s never thrown more than 134 innings in a season. Can he finally stay on the mound?
  • Sasaki’s timeline – He’s a future ace, but will the Dodgers wait until midseason to unleash him?

The bullpen looks elite, headlined by Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates, Michael Kopech, and Brusdar Graterol. But if the starting rotation falters, Los Angeles may need another trade deadline deal to solidify their staff—something they’ve never been afraid to do.

Can the Dodgers Repeat as World Series Champions?

There’s no question that the Dodgers have the talent to win back-to-back championships.

  • They have the most stacked lineup in baseball.
  • They have a deep and dominant pitching staff.
  • They have financial flexibility to add pieces at the deadline.

But this is MLB, where nothing is guaranteed. Injuries, regression, or an unexpected rival emerging could change everything.

For now, one thing is clear: Los Angeles is the team to beat.