Dodgers Opening Day roster projection 1.0: Battles at second and in the bullpen

The Dodgers don't have too many tough decisions to make during spring training, and their starting lineup on Opening Day should offer few surprises. We'll get the Big Three at the top of the order, followed by Teoscar Hernández, Max Muncy, Will Smith, Michael Conforto, and Tommy Edman (maybe even in that exact order).

Fans will probably want to pay attention to who manages to get that last spot in the order and the year's first start at second base. It could come down to a few different guys — Hyeseong Kim, Kiké Hernández, and Miguel Rojas — depending on how spring training goes.

However, there is more wiggle room in other parts of the roster. The last spot in the rotation is still undecided, as the Dodgers seem to have settled on using a five-man rotation until Shohei Ohtani returns to the mound in May. The bullpen might already be down a few arms thanks to some holdover issues from last season.

If we had to guess, though, here's what the Dodgers' 26-man roster will look like against the Tigers during their stateside Opening Day (they'll be allowed to carry 31 on their Tokyo Series roster).

Dodgers Opening Day roster projection 1.0: Hyeseong Kim at second, Bobby Miller in the bullpen

• Catchers (2): Will Smith, Austin Barnes
• First base (1): Freddie Freeman
• Second base (1): Kiké Hernández
• Shortstop (1): Mookie Betts
• Third base (1): Max Muncy
• Outfielders (3): Teoscar Hernández, Michael Conforto, Tommy Edman
• Designated hitter (1): Shohei Ohtani
• Bench/utility (3): Hyeseong Kim, Chris Taylor, Miguel Rojas
• Starting rotation (5): Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tony Gonsolin, Roki Sasaki
• Bullpen (8): Alex Vesia, Blake Treinen, Kirby Yates, Tanner Scott, Dustin May, Anthony Banda, Michael Kopech, Bobby Miller

Assuming reigning AL Cy Young winner and lefty Tarik Skubal starts the Dodgers' home opener on March 27, righty Kiké Hernández seems more likely to get the start at second over lefty bat Hyeseong Kim. Righty Miguel Rojas could also factor in here, but he actually hit better against fellow righties last season.

While this could easily change depending on how spring games go, Tony Gonsolin seems the most likely to get that last spot in the rotation over Dustin May and Bobby Miller, who would both go to the bullpen instead. The Dodgers will want to see how Gonsolin bounces back after missing all of 2024, and he's historically not as breakable as May.

Miller might need a slower reintroduction to major league pitching. The Dodgers (and Blake Snell, specifically) have liked what they've seen at camp so far, but his struggles last year don't warrant a guarantee of a rotation spot. His presence in the bullpen could push former top prospect Landon Knack out and back to Triple-A to start the year, unless Michael Kopech also ends up starting the season on the IL.

There isn't a lot of room for deviation here, but that battle at second and in the rotation, which could have cascading effects for the bullpen, will be two storylines to look out for through spring training.