The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the weekend series against the Houston Astros holding the best record in the National League, but their pitching depth was about to be exposed in the most humbling way possible. What unfolded over the first two games at Dodger Stadium served as a stark reminder that championship aspirations built on offense alone rarely survive the rigors of October playoff baseball.
When Hope Meets Reality
The series opener on the Fourth of July epitomized everything wrong with the team’s current pitching situation. Ben Casparius, a reliever-turned-emergency starter, surrendered six runs on nine hits in just three innings as Houston demolished Los Angeles 18-1 in the worst home loss in Dodger Stadium history. The following night, Justin Wrobleski — in a piggy-back role succeeding Shohei Ohtani — lasted just 4-⅔ innings while allowing four earned runs on seven hits and a walk in the club’s 6-4 defeat.
These aren’t high-caliber arms by any stretch. Casparius has struggled mightily since being moved into the rotation, posting a 10.38 ERA over his last four appearances as a starter or bulk reliever. Wrobleski, while showing occasional flashes, carries a 4.50 ERA and has been optioned to the minors five times already this season. Yet these are the pitchers the Dodgers are relying on to compete with legitimate championship contenders.
The harsh reality is that superior talent won both games for Houston. While the Dodgers’ offense managed just five runs across two games, the Astros scored 24 runs against Los Angeles’ makeshift rotation and overworked bullpen. No amount of offensive firepower can overcome such glaring pitching deficiencies when facing elite competition.
The Starting Rotation Crisis
Currently, the Dodgers have exactly three reliable starting pitchers — Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Clayton Kershaw and Dustin May. That’s it. Ohtani continues his gradual buildup but remains limited to two-inning outings as he works back from elbow surgery. The verdict is still out on Emmet Sheehan as he continues his comeback with a start against the Astros in Sunday’s series finale.
The injured list tells a harrowing story. Tyler Glasnow‘s second rehab start was a disaster — five runs allowed in 2-⅓ innings with concerning command and mechanics issues. In his third start this week, he allowed three earned runs on six hits and a walk over 4-1/3 frames.
Veteran southpaw Blake Snell remains nowhere near facing live hitters according to manager Dave Roberts. Young righty Roki Sasaki has been shut down for over a month with no clear timeline for return. Right-hander Tony Gonsolin could be out for the foreseeable future with another elbow problem.
Meanwhile, the organization’s Triple-A depth chart reads like a cautionary tale. Landon Knack and Bobby Miller are sporting an ERA north of 5.00 in Oklahoma City. The only two pitchers on the OKC squad with more than 30 innings pitched having ERAs less than 4.00 are Jack Little at 3.60 (who was recently recalled) and Matt Sauer at 3.79.
Bullpen Concerns Mount
The rotation’s struggles have created a domino effect that’s straining the bullpen beyond its limits. When starters can’t go beyond three or four innings, it forces overuse of relievers who were never designed to handle such workloads. The Astros series saw the Dodgers surrender 16 combined earned runs between Casparius and reliever Noah Davis in the opener alone.
Quality bullpen arms are already showing signs of fatigue as they’re asked to cover more and more innings. Without reliable length from the rotation, this pattern will only worsen as the season progresses, potentially compromising the very relievers the Dodgers will need for October success. Current big-name bullpen injuries range from Evan Phillips and Michael Kopech to Blake Treinen and Brusdar Graterol, who is certainly no stranger to the IL.
The Trade Market Reality
Recent reports suggest the Dodgers are “more focused on getting the starting pitchers they already have healthy” rather than pursuing external options. This approach assumes multiple injured pitchers will return to form simultaneously — a dangerous gamble given their collective injury history.
The trade market offers intriguing options. Sandy Alcantara‘s name has surfaced as a potential target, though his price tag would be substantial. Mid-tier veterans like Tyler Mahle or Jesus Luzardo could provide the depth Los Angeles desperately needs without mortgaging the future. Even rental options could offer more reliability than hoping Glasnow rediscovers his command or Snell finally gets healthy.
The Championship Math
The team’s current strategy essentially bets that several injury-prone pitchers will simultaneously return to health and effectiveness just in time for the postseason push. Baseball history suggests this rarely happens as planned.
Championship teams are built on depth and reliability, not wishful thinking. While the Dodgers’ offensive talent gives them a margin for error, relying on names like Casparius and Wrobleski (or even an aged Kershaw) in October might be a recipe for disappointment. The bats alone, no matter how potent, cannot overcome fundamental pitching inadequacies when facing elite opponents who can match that offensive production.
The 2025 MLB trade deadline is set for July 31 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern time.