Los Angeles Dodgers DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed reliever Blake Treinen (shoulder), who has been limited to just five appearances in the last two years due to shoulder issues, said he expects to have a "normal" spring training. General manager Brandon Gomes said earlier this month that Treinen is trending toward a return this year, so as long as the 35-year-old high-leverage reliever doesn't have a setback with his shoulder in spring training, he should be ready for the start of the regular season. He had surgery in November of 2022 and missed all of the 2023 season, so the Dodgers will likely be cautious with his workload, at least early on in 2024. Treinen has nine years of major-league experience with 79 career saves under his belt, but he'll be an injury risk in deep holds leagues this season.

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (elbow), who has been rehabbing from elbow surgery, said he's "very confident" that he'll be ready to serve as the team's DH when they open their season in South Korea on March 20 against the division-rival San Diego Padres. On Saturday, manager Dave Roberts said outfielder Mookie Betts will lead off, first baseman Freddie Freeman will hit second, and Ohtani would hit third to open the 2024 season. Ohtani, LA's $700 million free-agent pickup this winter, has been taking flips and hitting off a tee and is expected to hit on the field on Monday for the first time since undergoing surgery last year. The 29-year-old lefty slugger will start hitting off velocity shortly after he reports to sprint training next week. Ohtani's throwing program is mostly undetermined, but he said he's "right on schedule" with his hitting progression.

The Los Angeles Dodgers plan for right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto to start a game in their season-opening, two-game series against the division-rival San Diego Padres in South Korea, according to people familiar with the situation who spoke under the condition of anonymity. The 5-foot-10 Japanese pitcher with a less-than-imposing frame will be transitioning from pitching once a week in Japan to pitching once every five or six days in his first year in LA. He'll also have to get used to a slicker ball, and he said he encountered trouble throwing his splitter on Sunday in his second bullpen session of the spring. "I think I'll adjust quickly," Yamamoto said. The Dodgers are expected to use a modified version of a six-man starting rotation, which should afford the 25-year-old rookie a little extra rest here and there. Given the hype and his big contract, Yamamoto is going to be drafted as a fantasy ace.

There is currently no timeline for Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler (elbow) to make his 2024 season debut. "There's still no hard start date. There's a progression that needs to be in place and is in place. Once he passes all those markers he'll be ready to go. I just don't know when that's going to be," manager Dave Roberts said. Coming off Tommy John surgery after missing all of 2023, Buehler isn't going to be ready for the start of the 2024 campaign and could end up missing the entire first month of the season so that LA doesn't have to limit his innings down the stretch. The 29-year-old showed before his injury that he has the potential to be a fantasy ace, but managers may want to temper their expectations for Buehler in 2024.

The Los Angeles Dodgers placed right-hander Tony Gonsolin (elbow) on the 60-day injured list on Friday to make room on the active roster for the signing of left-hander Clayton Kershaw (shoulder), who will soon enough join Gonsolin on the 60-day IL. The 29-year-old Gonsolin will miss all of the 2024 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, so he will be completely off the fantasy radar in single-year leagues. An ankle sprain caused Gonsolin to get a late start to the 2023 campaign, and he ended up making only 20 starts, going 8-5 with a career-worst 4.98 ERA (5.43 FIP) and 1.22 WHIP while walking 40 and striking out 82 in 103 innings. It was a big disappointment after he was a first-time All-Star in 2022 and a Cy Young candidate after winning 16 games.