Monday begins not only the start of a new week for the 2026 baseball season, but it also marks the one-week checkpoint towards the MLB Trade Deadline. 

Next Monday, Aug. 3, will dictate the future for many teams trying for a World Series run in October, and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in the driver's seat to become the first National League team to three-peat as champions with the best record in baseball.

The Dodgers could likely punch their ticket earlier if they manage to acquire the biggest name of this year's deadline, two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal. 

But reports suggest that the Dodgers will not be full steam ahead on trading for Skubal's services, according to Madie Lee of The Los Angeles Times. 

This is all dependent on whether the Detroit Tigers want to move their ace altogether, but the Dodgers are preparing to welcome back a handful of reinforcements from the Injured List. 

Shohei Ohtani, who has had the bumpiest road in making his way back to the mound, has not deterred the Dodgers' pitching plans for the deadline. For the time being, Los Angeles will be cautious about Ohtani ramping up on the mound, but will continue to slot him in the leadoff spot. 

“I can only go by what he and the training staff are telling me. So, unless I hear otherwise that hitting compromises his health, then I’m going to keep putting him in the lineup," manager Dave Roberts told Katie Woo of The Athletic. 

Blake Snell, who has two rehab starts under his belt with Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets, will be re-evaluated this Wednesday after making his presumably last rehab start.

He is slated for four innings or 60 pitches. He could be activated for the Dodgers' upcoming homestand to avoid Roki Sasaki or Yoshinobu Yamamoto starting on regular rest, according to Woo. 

Tyler Glasnow has made leaps in his rehab as he finally faced hitters on Friday at Dodger Stadium — with his fastball topping out at 97 mph — and is slated to participate in one more live session before heading out for his own rehab. 

Edwin Díaz has completed his rehab over the weekend and is expected to be activated off the IL on Wednesday, per Roberts, according to Woo. 

With all of that accounted for, the Dodgers have two prolific starters making their way back from injuries, and one reliever ready to return to the mound and join alongside Tanner Scott. 

But still, this week will dictate how the deadline meter will shift, and you can never count out the president of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman, from making big splashes. 

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