Ranking mid-tier depth starters the Dodgers could target to shore up rotation

Tarik Skubal may be the Los Angeles Dodgers' million-dollar question ($400 million? $500 million?), but he's not the only area of the starting rotation that the club might address in the offseason. There's less optimism than usual that the Dodgers will be able to reel in the free-agent market's biggest fish, but where they go next might not be where you expect.

While the logic dictates that Los Angeles would go to the next best starter on the market, likely Freddy Peralta or Michael King, should Skubal bolt for greener pastures, that may not be the case. Dodgers insiders Katie Woo and Fabian Ardaya posit that if Skubal leaves, the Dodgers will pivot to depth options to fortify the rotation

In reality, considering depth options might be a smart play with or without Skubal. We know that Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell are good bets to miss more starts than they make, while Shohei Ohtani's injury history is concerning, and his importance to the lineup means he can't be put at risk. LA would also like to run a six-man rotation as much as possible, so adding as many rotation-capable arms as possible is smart.

The Dodgers aren't devoid of depth, but there are issues. Emmet Sheehan finished strong with a 3.90 ERA over his final 30 innings of work, but put up a 4.81 ERA prior to that. Justin Wrobleski was relatively solid on 2026, but more could be needed. Other options like Gavin Stone come with injury question marks.

Power ranking five mid-tier starters the Dodgers could target to improve their rotation depth in 2027

5. LHP David Peterson

David Peterson had been a solid back-end starter for most of his career, but as the Mets went off the rails in 2026, so did he. In New York, he recorded a 6.09 ERA, but after he was dealt to the Chicago Cubs, he threw 80⅓ innings and posted a 3.70 ERA. Subtract a horrific 10-run earned-run outing on July 3 against the St. Louis Cardinals, and his time in the Windy City was even better.

Peterson brings with him a ground ball rate that's greater than 50% and a roughly league-average strikeout rate. Those are solid tools for an innings-eater to rely upon.

4. RHP Tyler Mahle

Tyler Mahle has pitched like a top-of-the-rotation arm in spurts, most recently over the nine post-trade-deadline starts he made for the Atlanta Braves when he recorded a 1.99 ERA. He's not an overpowering arm, but he knows how to get outs, and that translated to postseason excellence with a 1.35 ERA in his first taste of October action this year.

This issue with the 32-year-old is durability. He made 27 starts and logged 149 innings this year, but over the previous three seasons he tallied a total of 24 starts. He's the option the Dodgers could go with if they want high-end upside, but are okay with him joining the other injury-prone arms on the IL for a time.

3. RHP Casey Mize

One of the bigger names in this group is Casey Mize, who has the pedigree of being the No. 1 overall pick back in 2018. There have been stretches when Mize has lived up to that pedigree. He posted a 2.70 ERA with the Tigers before being traded to the Padres, and he recorded a 3.15 ERA in the first half of 2025.

However, consistency is an issue. Mize pitched to a 4.92 ERA down the stretch in 2025, and he was downright awful in San Diego with a 7.46 mark over 10 starts. Essentially, he's a boom-or-bust option who may or may not be worth the contract that he gets.

2. LHP Matthew Boyd

Neither the most durable nor the most dominant, Matthew Boyd is crafty and finds ways to get hitters out. He's also been healthier the last two seasons than he was from 2020 through 2024. If the Dodgers decide to go with him, they'll be getting a starter who deserves a spot in the rotation.

The question is, where would he slot? Boyd's first season in Chicago saw him pitch like a top-three starter, posting a 3.21 ERA and 3.65 FIP. This year saw him put together a performance that more resembles a No. 4 or No. 5 option, with a 3.91 ERA and 4.21 FIP.

1. RHP Clay Holmes

If the Dodgers are looking for a sure-fire rotation piece, then Clay Holmes is it. Since converting back to the starting rotation in 2025, Holmes has made 49 starts, logged 262⅓ innings, and posted a 3.50 ERA. He's going to keep the infielders on their toes and could lead the league in ground ball rate, posting a 57.3% rate over that span.

As an added bonus, Holmes has extensive experience closing games and could be an option to flip back to the bullpen in October, which is when the Dodgers seem to always have their bullpen in disarray. He won't come cheap, but compared to Skubal, he'll be paid a pittance and raises both the floor and the ceiling of the pitching staff.

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