Analyzing the Dodgers' bullpen options at this point in spring training

There's a lot more to this Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen than newcomers Kirby Yates and Tanner Scott - but it's safe to say, slotting those two in alongside Blake Treinen in the late innings doesn't hurt matters.

Recently-extended Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has an embarrassment of riches across the entire roster, but it with how the roster looks like right now, it feels like the bullpen may be a little top-heavy, with the bulk of the impact tied up in those three arms. The starting rotation getting fully healthy could go a long way toward deepening the relief corps, so this is definitely more of a big picture discussion.

The team announced right-hander Dustin May will slot into the fifth starter spot to open the year, but at some point, he could be bumped to the pen. Shohei Ohtani has slowed his ramp-up on the mound of late, but figures to factor back into the mix early in the season, and Dodgers legend and future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw will be back this summer.

Injuries have weakened the Dodgers' staff to open the 2025 season

The team admitted it'll take some time to build Bobby Miller back up as a starter after he took a comebacker off the head, so it seems likely he'll open the year at Triple-A (the fact he has two minor-league options left doesn't hurt, either). Michael Kopech got a late start this spring and could also open the year on the injured list. So what does that leave in the pen bridging the gap to Treinen, Yates and Scott? The short answer is a lot of question marks.

Tony Gonsolin's status for the Opening Day roster was already uncertain before his recent back injury- although FanGraphs projected him as a long-relief option on the depth chart before that recent setback. If you take him out of the mix to start the year, we're looking at left-handers Alex Vesia, Anthony Banda and Justin Wrobleski, along with right-hander Ben Casparius. Of the four, only Vesia is projected for even 0.5 fWAR this season.

At full strength, the Dodgers' pitching staff could be elite. But injuries have definitely taken their toll this spring, leaving them to rely heavily on a deep rotation mix. It's hard to poke holes in a reigning World Series champion that dominated headlines all winter long, but if there's one weakness this team has heading into the 2025 season, it's the front end of this bullpen.