Dodgers 2026 report card: Tarik Skubal trade not enough to save banged-up pitching staff

The last two years, the Dodgers' pitching staff carried them to World Series titles –– with the bullpen doing the heavy lifting in 2024, and the rotation pitching at a superhuman level in 2025.

This season, the group couldn't replicate that success, enduring adversity during an injury-plagued regular season and then failure against a relentless Brewers offense in the team's National League Championship Series elimination .

Still, the Dodgers boasted a talented staff, finishing with the fourth-lowest team ERA in the majors this year.

In Part 2 of the California Post's end-of-season report card for the Dodgers' 2026 season , here's a look at how each key arm performed, and where they stand entering 2027:

It's worth remembering: Yamamoto entered 2026 coming off a career-high 30 regular-season starts in 2025, another 37 innings in his heroic postseason run, and an appearance this spring in the World Baseball Classic. You'd have been forgiven for thinking his right arm was about to fall off.

Instead, the reigning World Series MVP was even more productive in 2026, throwing more innings (185), collecting more wins (14-9 record) and lowering his WHIP (0.87) while posting a nearly-identical 2.53 ERA (fifth-lowest in the majors). The only disappointment: He didn't replicate last year's historic October, suffering the Dodgers' shortest playoff start during a pivotal NLCS Game 2 loss . Still, he's on the (very) short list for best pitchers in the game right now.

Another member of that short list, Skubal just about lived up to the billing following his blockbuster trade deadline deal, going 5-2 with a 2.61 ERA in his 10 regular-season starts for the Dodgers. He also had the best postseason of anyone in their rotation, giving up three runs over 11 innings in two starts.

Still, he took the defeat in his NLCS outing. And in the end, the team's aggressive acquisition of the two-time Cy Young Award winner didn't work out as intended, failing to help the team complete a World Series three-peat. The question now: Will the Dodgers be as aggressive in trying to re-sign him as a free agent ?

This was not the season Blake Snell was envisioning . He was limited to just nine starts by shoulder and elbow injuries. And though he did post a minuscule 1.90 ERA in the regular season, he suffered two disastrous playoff starts, failing to complete four innings against the Braves in one and giving up back-to-back seventh-inning home runs against the Brewers in the other. He showed he still has some of the best stuff in the sport when right. But after another abbreviated regular season, the Dodgers needed more from him in October.

Glasnow's season was similar to Snell's. He made just 13 regular-season starts because of back problems, going 5-2 with a 3.53 ERA. His performance also regressed in the playoffs, when he blew a four-run lead with the team facing elimination in Game 4 of the NLCS. The last couple years, the Dodgers have gotten away with limited workloads from both pitchers. But next year, they will be expecting more from each of them, in the regular season and the playoffs.

Wrobleski was having an A+ season through mid-July, going from bullpen swingman to breakout rotation star with an 11-2 record and 2.62 ERA through his first 17 outings. However, the All-Star selection finished on a sour note, getting shifted to the bullpen after a serious bout with home run struggles down the stretch. He showed he can be a quality big-league starter. Now he needs to prove he can do it over the course of a full year.

What started as a rollercoaster campaign for the second-year Japanese phenom finished with signs of tangible progress . In his first 15 starts, Sasaki had a 5.40 ERA and 1.47 WHIP. In his next seven starts after that, he had a 2.63 ERA and 1.21 WHIP, finding success with a reworked arsenal and improved command. A blister sidetracked that late-season surge, and prompted a shift back to the bullpen for the playoffs. But entering 2027, the Dodgers will be hoping he can take another step. Finally, they have real reason to believe he can.

This was largely a lost season for Sheehan, whose first full campaign back from Tommy John surgery did not go according to plan. He was 5-8 with a 4.57 ERA in 23 outings. He battled inconsistent velocity and mechanics. He was sent back to triple-A for much of the final two months. He did seem to find something late in the year, giving up only one run over 17 innings in three September outings. But he has a big offseason ahead if he wants to re-cement himself as a long-term fixture in the Dodgers' rotation.

For most of the year, nothing went right for the $69 million offseason signing . He battled elbow and neck injuries. He posted a career-worst 8.68 ERA in the regular season. He was nearly left off the team's postseason roster. Despite all that, he did finish the year as the Dodgers' expected, rediscovering his typically dominant form just in time to return to the closer's role in October. But that was the only silver lining to take from an otherwise dismal debut Dodgers season.

The Edwin Díaz of 2025, Scott was significantly better in the second year of his $72 million deal. He had 25 saves and a 2.69 ERA, one of only 11 pitchers to do so this year. His 82 strikeouts were most of the Dodgers' bullpen. However, he also gave up a pair of postseason home runs, including a go-ahead shot in their NLCS Game 4 elimination. In other words, while he was better in 2026, he still hasn't lived up to his big contract.

Henriquez was a bit of a revelation in his first full MLB season, posting a 2.85 ERA in 61 outings while wowing with his 100.7 mph average fastball (second-hardest in the majors behind only Mason Miller). His postseason was forgettable. But, moving forward, he should be a key arm in the Dodgers' bullpen long-term.

The pending free agent had another solid season, posting a sub-3.02 ERA (2.64) for the fifth time in six years with the Dodgers. Before the playoffs, he expressed his hope of being back in Los Angeles next year. But, he should have plenty of other suitors on the open market this winter.

It took time for Phillips to knock the rust off following his return from Tommy John. But by the end of the year, his fastball was back in the upper-90s (even hitting 100 at one point). After re-signing with the Dodgers last year, he hits free agency again this offseason.

When healthy, Stewart was effective. But he continued his career-long battle with injuries, making only 28 appearances. He enters his final season of team control in 2027.

Treinen never quite looked right this year, while spending extended time on the injured list for a second-straight season. A season-ending shoulder injury also put the 38-year-old's future in question. At the very least, it's possible the soon-to-be free agent might have thrown his last pitch for the Dodgers after a decorated seven-year tenure.

Last year's World Series hero was good in the first half, but ultimately finished the year with a 3.67 ERA and elbow troubles. He should get another chance to prove himself as a high-leverage big-league reliever in 2027.

It was a decent season overall for Dreyer (3.20 ERA). But a September slump cost him a spot on the Dodgers' postseason roster. He'll be trying to increase his role in 2027.

Lauer served his purpose this year, giving the Dodgers reliable starts amid a midseason injury crisis to the rest of their rotation. As a free agent, however, he will likely have to look elsewhere for starting opportunities in 2027.

Once a highly-touted prospect who had dealt with injuries in recent years, Hurt made 44 appearances this year but had an up-and-down campaign that finished with a 4.14 ERA. He'll be one of many fringe arms trying to earn a big-league job in spring training next year.