The Los Angeles Dodgers have won each of the last two World Series championships and are looking to become the first team to three-peat since the New York Yankees in 1998, 1999, and 2000.
Heading into the upcoming 2026 MLB season, the Dodgers are once again going to be a heavy favorite to win it all.
Los Angeles lost a couple of players from last season, but the front office made another huge splash in free agency. In what has become an offseason expectation, the Dodgers were able to sign the most coveted player on the market, signing superstar outfielder Kyle Tucker to a big four-year, $240 million contract.
Along with Tucker, Los Angeles also signed former New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz.
On the outside looking in, the Dodgers look to be the team to beat again. Add in another year of development from rising superstar pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto and things look even better.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto Gaining More Respect With the Los Angeles Dodgers
When he signed with Los Angeles before the 2024 season, everyone knew that Yamamoto had elite potential. In his rookie year, he made 18 starts and went 7-2 with a 3.00 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, a 4.8 K/BB ratio, and 90 innings pitched.
Last season, he took those numbers to new heights. He made 30 starts, compiling a 12-8 record to go along with a 2.49 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 3.4 K/BB ratio, and 173.2 innings pitched. In addition, he was able to come in during Game 7 of the World Series and pitch 2.2 scoreless innings to win.
Ahead of his third season with the Dodgers, Yamamoto has received some major news.
According to the Top 100 Right Now list, Yamamoto is now the No. 13 ranked player in baseball. Last year, he was ranked at No. 63, which sees him rising 50 spots in just one year.
That respect alone shows just how much the 27-year-old starting pitcher has improved since coming to Major League Baseball. Heading into the 2026 season, fans are hoping to see him improve his game even more.
Los Angeles Is Looking Scary in All Facets
Simply looking at the roster, the Dodgers are going to be very difficult to beat. They will be tough to beat in the regular season, but defeating them in a seven-game series will be even more tough for opponents.
Right now, the rotation is set to feature Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani, and either Emmet Sheehan or Roki Sasaki. All of those pitchers are capable of being lockdown starters.
From a lineup perspective, there are no teams in baseball with more firepower. Ohtani and Tucker headline the group, with Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernandez, Will Smith, and Max Muncy also being threats at the plate.
Once again, the bullpen also looks elite. There are no areas where Los Angeles seems to have a weakness.
Of course, things can change. The Dodgers will need to stay healthy. However, if they’re able to stay healthy, a third straight World Series win is very possible.
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