The Los Angeles Dodgers own the best record in Major League Baseball, but how they’ve done it defies traditional baseball logic. As USA Today’s Bob Nightengale noted, “It’s remarkable that the Dodgers have the best record in baseball, considering their relievers have pitched the most innings in baseball (172) entering Saturday with their starters throwing the fewest (171).”
The Dodgers are the first team in history to use 11 starters before the month of May.
Los Angeles Dodgers Weathering Injury Storm
That imbalance tells a deeper story about the resilience—and resourcefulness—of this Dodgers team. With key starting pitchers like Tyler Glasnow, Gavin Stone, and now Blake Snell sidelined due to injuries, manager Dave Roberts has leaned heavily on his bullpen to carry the load. The result? A pitching staff doing just enough to support one of the league’s most explosive offenses, led by Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Shohei Ohtani.
In a typical season, a team would worry about burnout or overuse when the bullpen racks up this many innings early. But the relievers have held their own, adapting under pressure and keeping games close when needed. Young arms like Roki Sasaki and veteran swingmen have been critical to bridging gaps and preserving wins.
It’s not a sustainable formula forever, but for now, it’s working. The Dodgers are winning with grit, depth, and just enough pitching creativity to survive the early-season grind. And when their rotation gets healthy? They could be even more dangerous. For now, L.A. is proving that even with a backwards formula, winning is still winning.