The Los Angeles Dodgers have widely been touted as an unstoppable force, but they are facing some early questions with their pitching staff as Opening Day of the 2026 season sits one month away.<\/p>\n
Blake Snell’s slow progression is likely going to result in not being on the Dodgers’ roster<\/a> to start the season. And in the bullpen, the likes of Brusdar Graterol, Brock Stewart and Evan Phillips are at different stages in their recoveries from respective surgeries.<\/p>\n According to Jack Harris<\/a> of the California Post, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Stewart is making progress with his bullpen sessions but Graterol has stalled.<\/p>\n \u2014 Brock Stewart\u2019s bullpens have been encouraging. He is also unlikely for opening day, but might not be out long once regular season begins<\/p>\n \u2014 Brusdar Graterol has not gotten off a mound lately, and is in a \u201cholding pattern.\u201d Dodgers are still taking things slowly with him<\/p>\n Aside from the Dodgers expecting returns at some point this year, there is still reason to believe in their potential group of relief pitchers who will be on the Opening Day roster. The bullpen is of course boosted by the addition of Edwin D\u00edaz to solidfy the closer role.<\/p>\n From there, the Dodgers bullpen on Opening Day<\/a> could also include Ben Casparius, Jack Dreyer, Will Klein, Tanner Scott, Blake Treinen, Alex Vesia and Justin Wrobleski. Other candidates include Edgardo Henriquez, Landon Knack, Cole Irvin and Ronan Kopp.<\/p>\n Dodgers Spring Training notesBrusdar Graterol<\/p>\n Graterol is still looking to return from having right shoulder surgery to repair the labrum in November 2024. He was projected to return during the second half of last season, but that never came to be.<\/p>\n Graterol didn’t so much as begin a rehab assignment last year. He was feeling healthy going into Spring Training but Roberts shared early on that Graterol would be brought along slowly due to<\/a> his throwing not being at the expected level.<\/p>\n Brock Stewart<\/p>\n That Stewart wouldn’t be part of the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster was widely expected at the time of his right shoulder surgery last September. It came after he spent nearly six weeks on the injured list and hoped to return in time for the playoffs.<\/p>\n