2024 Division Outlook: NL West
By Sam Holstine
Los Angeles Dodgers
Key Additions
- DH/SP Shohei Ohtani
- RHP Tyler Glasnow
- OF Teoscar Hernandez
- RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto
- LHP James Paxton
Key Loses
- DH J.D. Martinez
- RHP Ryan Pepiot
- RHP Lance Lynn
- SS Amed Rosario
- 1B Michael Busch
- RHP Shelby Miller
Moving over to Hollywood, The Dodgers might be the biggest powerhouse in all of Major League Baseball, and they only got stronger. They obviously added the best player in the world, signing Shoehi Ohtani to a lucrative 10-year deal, and adding depth elsewhere. The question isn't how the Dodgers will do in the regular season, but how will they perform come October, where they have recently became infamous to fault every year.
Dave Roberts has an insanely elite lineup at this disposal, with weapons from the top to the bottom. Led by three MVP candidates, the Dodgers will have Mookie Betts, Ohtani, and Freddie Freeman forming a three headed monster atop their lineup. This trio needs no introduction, as each of them have already brought home individual MVP awards. Will Smith, a top three catcher in baseball, is primed for another productive season, especially after being rewarded with a $140 million extension. Max Muncy is ready to spend another season handling the hot corner in LA as an elite slugger. Teoscar Hernandez was brought in as a free agent acquisition over the offseason, a project that will get to work in the Dodgers lab and could easily return to his productive self from a few years ago. James Outman will look to build on a strong rookie season, with Gavin Lux looking to make his way back from an injury that took him out of the 2023 season. The Dodgers lineup has been one of the best in baseball for years now, and somehow it looks to be stronger than ever this year.
Shohei Ohtani hit the longest Home Run of the 2023 MLB season at a ridiculous 493 feet ‼️
— The Commish (@CommishFilmRoom) March 26, 2024
Who do you think hits the longest Home Run in 2024?
Comment below with player name & distance ⬇️pic.twitter.com/oNKosSUDRM
Just like their lineup, the Dodgers pitching looks to be one of the best in baseball yet again. Tyler Glasnow will be the ace of the staff, as the Dodgers hope for a healthy season from their offseason acquisition. When on the mound, Glasnow can flat out rack up strikeouts more than any other pitcher in baseball, but it has been injuries holding Glasnow back over the years. Bobby Miller is the second ace of the Dodgers staff, and he looks primed to turn into one of the most prestigious pitchers in baseball. His stuff is flat out nasty, with insane movement profiles and velocity. In case those two weren't enough, the Dodgers will then send out Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who looks to transfer his numbers from the NPB over to the Major Leagues. Gavin Stone and James Paxton will round up the rotation, with Stone looking to turn into the next piece out of the lab and Paxton looking for a fully healthy season. Walker Buehler, Tony Gonsolin, Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May, and Emmet Sheehan will all begin the season on the IL. That list of guys is an elite rotation by itself, and those are the reinforcements the already elite Dodgers rotation will be getting throughout the year. On the bullpen side, the Dodgers look to have a stable unit back there, backed up by Evan Phillips.
Bobby Miller 11 K pic.twitter.com/car8Zcgnk6
— Mad Choriyama (@MadChoriyama) March 30, 2024
Do I really need to say much more about this squad? The Dodgers will dominate the 2024 regular season.