In 2024, the Dodgers went into the World Series with just three starters — only one of whom was truly reliable — and a dynamite bullpen that had bailed them out time and time again in the regular season. In 2025, it was the exact opposite: a fully healthy, dominant rotation with an injured and absolutely pathetic bullpen.
During both seasons, the Dodgers' pitching staff was riddled with injuries. Last year, Walker Buehler and Yoshinobu Yamamoto were healthy by the postseason, but spent significant amounts of time on the IL, Tyler Glasnow was on the 60-day IL with elbow tendinitis in October, and Clayton Kershaw had a bone spur in his toe.