LOS ANGELES, March 23 - The Los Angeles Dodgers launch their quest for a historic third consecutive World Series title this week, widely favored amid a loaded roster and aggressive offseason upgrades.
Los Angeles returns key stars including Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Will Smith after last year’s seven-game triumph over the Toronto Blue Jays. They added closer Edwin Diaz and right fielder Kyle Tucker, two top free agents, strengthening an already dominant squad.
The pitching rotation ranks among baseball’s best, featuring World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Ohtani, and Roki Sasaki.
Backed by Guggenheim Baseball Management and its financial firepower, the Dodgers have drawn scrutiny from smaller-market teams. Critics point to Ohtani’s $700 million contract as emblematic of growing competitive imbalance.
Many small-market owners are pushing for a salary cap in the next collective bargaining agreement, a move opposed by the players’ union that could trigger a labor standoff in 2027.
Manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the challenge ahead: "This is going to be harder than it has ever been. We’ve got to push ourselves even more."
The 2026 MLB season opens Wednesday with the Yankees facing the Giants in San Francisco. The Dodgers begin Thursday at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks, with Yamamoto on the mound.