MLB Analyst Offers Positive News for Dodgers Amid Alarming Injury Crisis
By Mary John
April 29, 2025
The Los Angeles Dodgers, one of baseball’s perennial powerhouses, are facing a daunting challenge just weeks into the 2025 MLB season. With 12 pitchers currently sidelined—several of them All-Stars—the team’s depth has been pushed to its absolute limit. The mounting injury list has ignited concern among fans and analysts alike. Yet amid the chaos, not all is lost. In fact, one prominent MLB analyst is offering a rare dose of optimism, suggesting the storm the Dodgers are weathering now could ultimately shape them into an even stronger contender by the time October rolls around.
When the Dodgers began spring training in February, expectations were sky-high. Following a blockbuster offseason that saw the team land superstar Shohei Ohtani, re-sign key contributors, and bolster their rotation with frontline starters like Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow, the 2025 Dodgers looked, on paper, like one of the most complete teams assembled in recent memory.
But baseball has a way of humbling even the most loaded rosters.
Just 25 games into the regular season, the Dodgers’ pitching staff has been decimated. Among those on the injured list are All-Star relievers Brusdar Graterol and Blake Treinen, ace-level starters like Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw, and promising arms like Bobby Miller and Dustin May. The team has used over 15 different pitchers already, including several minor league call-ups who were never expected to see major league innings this early.
The result? Inconsistency on the mound and immense pressure on the offense to produce nightly.
Despite the grim headlines and long-term concerns about health and depth, MLB Network’s Tom Verducci offered a surprising take on the Dodgers’ situation during a recent segment on MLB Tonight.
“There’s no question the Dodgers are facing one of the most severe injury crises we’ve seen in years,” Verducci acknowledged. “But I actually think this adversity is going to benefit them in the long run. They’re developing depth in real time, giving young arms invaluable experience, and preserving the workload of their veterans. Come September, they could be healthier, deeper, and more battle-tested than anyone else.”
It’s a bold prediction—and one not without precedent.
Verducci pointed to the 2019 Washington Nationals and the 2021 Atlanta Braves as recent examples of teams that suffered early-season setbacks but went on to win the World Series after retooling midseason and peaking at the right time.
“The key in modern baseball isn’t starting hot—it’s finishing strong,” Verducci said. “And the Dodgers, if they manage this crisis right, are going to finish strong.
Indeed, one silver lining to the injury woes has been the opportunity it has created for younger pitchers to shine. Right-hander River Ryan, a 25-year-old prospect acquired from the Padres in 2022, has impressed in his first few outings. His fastball sits in the mid-90s, and his poise on the mound has drawn comparisons to a young Zack Greinke.
Michael Grove, who struggled to stick in previous seasons, has also shown signs of maturity and command, stepping into a spot starter role and delivering competitive innings.
Then there’s 24-year-old lefty Justin Wrobleski, who wasn’t even on the radar when the season began. Injuries have thrust him into the bullpen, where he’s posted a 1.80 ERA through his first eight appearances.
Manager Dave Roberts has been quick to praise the newcomers.
“They’ve stepped up big time,” Roberts said after a win over the Padres. “This isn’t how you draw it up, but it’s part of the game. These young guys are proving they belong, and they’re helping us stay in the fight.”
While the pitching staff has struggled, the Dodgers’ offense continues to fire on all cylinders.
Shohei Ohtani, despite the pitching arm injury that has sidelined him from the mound until 2026, is delivering MVP-caliber production at the plate. He’s already hit 9 home runs, driven in 24 RBIs, and boasts an OPS north of 1.000.
Freddie Freeman remains a consistent force in the lineup, while Mookie Betts is playing Gold Glove defense and leading the team in runs scored. Will Smith has also emerged as one of the best offensive catchers in baseball, while young infielder Miguel Vargas is beginning to show signs of breakout potential.
This potent lineup has helped the Dodgers maintain a winning record despite the rotation chaos, staying within striking distance of the top spot in the NL West.
Another reason for Verducci’s optimism lies in the recovery timeline of several injured stars. According to team insiders, Walker Buehler is expected back by June after completing a cautious rehab schedule. Tyler Glasnow’s shoulder issue is reportedly minor, and he could return by late May. Bobby Miller is throwing again and may rejoin the team within the month.
If the Dodgers can tread water through May, they could enter the summer with a rotation suddenly headlined by Glasnow, Yamamoto, Buehler, and possibly even Kershaw, who continues to eye a midseason return.
“That’s a playoff rotation any team would envy,” Verducci noted. “Add in a few trade deadline reinforcements, and they’ll be right where they need to be.”
The Dodgers’ deep pockets and creative front office also give them a distinct advantage. President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman is known for pulling off impactful midseason moves, and this year’s trade deadline is expected to be active with sellers like the Rockies, White Sox, and A’s already falling out of contention.
The Dodgers have been linked to Chicago’s Garrett Crochet and Oakland’s Mason Miller, both young, controllable arms that could help fill the gap and provide insurance for the postseason.
“Nobody navigates roster-building like Friedman,” one anonymous GM told The Athletic. “If there’s a hole to fill, he’ll find a way—and he’s not afraid to make bold moves.”
A hidden strength during this trying time has been the Dodgers’ clubhouse chemistry and leadership. Veterans like Betts, Freeman, and Ohtani have reportedly helped keep morale high, embracing the underdog mentality and focusing on team unity.
Following a particularly tough series loss to the Giants, Freeman addressed the team in a players-only meeting.
“He told us we’re going to get through this together,” rookie Michael Busch shared. “He reminded us we’re still the Dodgers—and that means something.”
That leadership, combined with Dave Roberts’ calm demeanor and strategic adaptability, has helped the Dodgers avoid panic and stay competitive.
The fanbase has had mixed reactions. On social media, many Dodgers fans have expressed concern, especially with the team’s history of October letdowns. The memories of early playoff exits in 2019, 2021, and 2023 still sting.
“Every year it’s something—injuries, slumps, bad bullpen management,” one fan posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Is this really going to be different?”
But others have rallied behind the team’s resilience and the young arms showing promise.
“We’re surviving the worst injury stretch in years and still above .500,” another fan wrote. “Wait until we get healthy.”
Dodger Stadium remains packed, and the energy in the stands has taken on a gritty, determined tone—a reflection of the team itself.
The next month will be critical. The Dodgers face a tough stretch that includes series against the Braves, Phillies, and Diamondbacks—all playoff-caliber teams. How the patched-together rotation holds up will likely dictate the team’s positioning heading into summer.
But if Verducci’s analysis holds true, this period of struggle could be the catalyst for a stronger, more complete team come postseason.
“Adversity doesn’t break championship teams—it builds them,” Verducci concluded. “This could be the year the Dodgers finally get over the hump. And believe it or not, these injuries might just be the thing that pushes them there.”
The injury crisis the Dodgers are enduring is undeniably alarming. It has tested the organization’s depth, disrupted the rotation, and forced the team to rely on unproven talent far earlier than expected. But hidden within the chaos is a rare opportunity—for young arms to grow, for veterans to lead, and for the front office to demonstrate its mastery once again.
If the Dodgers can stay afloat in the standings while reinforcements return, they could emerge from this storm not just intact—but transformed. With October baseball as unpredictable as ever, the battle-hardened Dodgers may find that this early adversity becomes the very reason they finally reach the mountaintop once again.
