The Los Angeles Dodgers are on the cusp of beginning their most important playoff run yet as they embark on a mission to win a third-straight World Series title.

This has not been the easiest year for the Dodgers as injuries have taken a toll on their aging core. However, their talent and unity have still led to what may end up being a 100-win season.

For this team to reach its goals, it is going to take a complete effort, and a heavy responsibility will be placed upon the pitching staff. So, where does it rank?

Recently, The Athletic ranked the pitching staffs of each contending team, and the Dodgers’ core group came in first place.

Firstly, this demonstrates how good this team is even without Shohei Ohtani on the mound. The latter was producing a season worthy of his first Cy Young Award before a knee issue compelled him to become strictly a hitter for the remainder of 2026.

Even with Ohtani’s absence, the Dodgers still boast a starting rotation that features Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow. Most of, if not all of them, will have bids for Cooperstown by the time they are done playing.

What makes The Athletic's list more intriguing is that it features Jack Dreyer, Evan Phillips and Alex Vesia as the key relievers, while Tanner Scott is recognized as the closer.

As an obvious reminder, this is a team that signed Edwin Diaz to a record average annual value last winter because, at the time, he was the best reliever in baseball. However, Diaz has had such a disastrous inaugural season with his new team that Scott has been recognized as the default closer.

In its listing of the Dodgers' pitchers, The Athletic identified the good and the bad about it. The good is clear as day — this is an exceptional group. However, the bad concerns the health of this core.

Yamamoto has been healthy this season, but Skubal, Snell and Glasnow have all dealt with lengthy stints on the Injured List. Health is in their favor now, but it needs to hold for this group to have a real chance at winning it all once again.

The Dodgers have quite a difficult road ahead of them to get back to the mountaintop. The landscape of the National League has become much more difficult, and they need this pitching staff to live up to its potential.