The Dodgers are looking to become the first team to win three World Series titles in a row since the Yankees did it from 1998-2000. They’ll enter their NLDS matchup with the Braves favored to win it all again.
Two-time defending AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal is now at the forefront of a rotation that includes reigning World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow. Last year, the rotation for the Dodgers came together in a manner that allowed them to win the World Series without much of a bullpen, because their starters both pitched deep into games and took down some relief innings. Will that happen again in 2026?
Four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani won’t pitch, but he’ll still be at DH, looking to maintain the .940 career postseason OPS he has. Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Kyle Tucker, Max Muncy, Teoscar Hernández, Will Smith and Miguel Rojas are among the other players on Dave Roberts’ roster with a history of big hits in the postseason. And don’t forget, this is the time of the year where Kiké Hernández becomes Barry Bonds.
When you look at the roster, it’s hard to pick anyone over the Dodgers. But they learned last year just how hard it is to repeat, and three-peating is even more difficult. Recent history suggests that the best time to knock the Dodgers off is in the NLDS when they are a little rusty after the bye.