{"id":98330,"date":"2025-03-26T23:49:12","date_gmt":"2025-03-27T03:49:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=98330"},"modified":"2025-03-26T23:49:12","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T03:49:12","slug":"four-predictions-2025-los-angeles-dodgers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/03\/26\/four-predictions-2025-los-angeles-dodgers\/","title":{"rendered":"Four Bold(ish) Predictions for the Dodgers as They Look to Defend Title"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The domestic Opening Day for the 2025 Los Angeles Dodgers is just hours away. They may be the favorites to become the first back-to-back World Series Champions in 25 years. However, anything can happen. Here are four predictions that could go along way in determining whether the Dodgers hoist the trophy again this season.<\/p>\n<h2>Four Predictions for the Dodgers This Season<\/h2>\n<h3>Production Out of Left Field<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/confomi01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-03-26_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Michael Conforto<\/a> will have an <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/12\/08\/michael-conforto-signs-with-dodgers\/\" target=\"_self\">excellent year<\/a>. He played in the City by the Bay last year in not-so-hitter-friendly Oracle Park. Dodger Stadium may prove to be more offensive for the left-handed hitter. In addition, with the line-up already loaded with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/f\/freemfr01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-03-26_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Freddie Freeman<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/o\/ohtansh01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-03-26_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Shohei Ohtani<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/b\/bettsmo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-03-26_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mookie Betts<\/a>, the newcomer will get more pitches to hit. The 32-year-old had a batting average hovering around .300 and an OPS over 1.000 in March during spring training. If he stays healthy and features a consistent swing, Conforto will get ample opportunities to drive in runs for the Dodgers this season.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Michael Conforto goes yard to open the scoring in exhibition action! <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/TokyoSeries?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#TokyoSeries<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/n9bTcDjhGK\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/n9bTcDjhGK<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 MLB (@MLB) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MLB\/status\/1900859049760968984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">March 15, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3>Trade for a Second Baseman or Center Fielder<\/h3>\n<p>The only question coming into and out of spring training for the Dodgers was who would play <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/03\/19\/dodgers-make-roster-moves-opening-day\/\" target=\"_self\">second base and center field.<\/a> National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/e\/edmanto01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-03-26_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tommy Edman<\/a> moved to second base when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/register\/player.fcgi?id=kim---016hye&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-03-26_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Hyeseong Kim<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/03\/11\/dodgers-hyeseong-kim-start-season-minors\/\" target=\"_self\">was sent<\/a> to Triple-A Oklahoma City. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/p\/pagesan01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-03-26_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Andy Pages<\/a> won the center field job. However, his defense is still a work in progress. Furthermore, Pages has yet to realize his potential with the bat. He went o-fer in the last two spring training games and hit just under .200 overall. If his struggles continue, look for the Dodgers to tap into their depth to address this need or seek out a trade.<\/p>\n<h3>Piggy-Backing Pitchers<\/h3>\n<p>The Dodgers&#8217; <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/10\/17\/dodgers-thin-starting-pitching-2024-postseason\/\" target=\"_self\">pitching injuries<\/a> last season have been well-documented. They looked to address <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/11\/18\/dodgers-mark-prior-discusses-pitching-injuries\/\" target=\"_self\">these concerns<\/a> in multiple ways, most notably by <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/03\/19\/dodgers-starting-rotation-mlb\/\" target=\"_self\">signing Roki Sasaki and Blake Snell<\/a>. As a result, they could have as many as eight arms to fill what will be a six-man rotation. Because of the Ohtani rule, the Dodgers are allowed to carry 14 pitchers. Given the injury history of the arms on the roster, and in order to limit the wear and tear, will the Dodgers consider using two starters every sixth day? For example, having <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/k\/kershcl01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-03-26_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Clayton Kershaw<\/a> pitch three or four innings and then bring in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/m\/maydu01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-03-26_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dustin May<\/a> to finish the game. This would not only limit the workload for the starting rotation but also preserve the effectiveness of the bullpen throughout the regular season and into October.<\/p>\n<h3>Trade of a Veteran Utilityman<\/h3>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Chris Taylor highlights hit different \ud83e\udd72 <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/spWDxkfw2X\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/spWDxkfw2X<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Baseball (@mlbelites_) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/mlbelites_\/status\/1859286378875421057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 20, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/t\/tayloch03.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-03-26_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Chris Taylor<\/a> has had some incredible moments in a Dodger uniform, and he can play multiple positions. However, he has struggled the last several years with the bat. As a result, Taylor&#8217;s playing time has dwindled. Spring training continued that trend. The<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/01\/21\/three-dodgers-new-homes-opening-day\/\" target=\"_self\"> veteran utilityman<\/a> had a batting average of .205 with 16 strikeouts in 39 plate appearances. Taylor is in the last year of a four-year contract, and he might do better with a fresh start with another team. The Dodgers have plenty of depth to cover for the occasional absence of the everyday players. Time will tell if they decide to move Taylor.<\/p>\n<p>It remains to be seen if any of these predictions come true. What isn&#8217;t in doubt is that the 2025 season promises to be one of the most memorable in Dodger history.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The domestic Opening Day for the 2025 Los Angeles Dodgers is just hours away. They may be the favorites to become the first back-to-back World Series Champions in 25 years. However, anything can happen. Here are four predictions that could go along way in determining whether the Dodgers hoist the trophy again this season. Four [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5226,"featured_media":98351,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33,1071],"tags":[28464,1122,1732,97,1750,28818,689,3899],"class_list":["post-98330","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dodgers","category-mlb","tag-andy-pages","tag-blake-snell","tag-chris-taylor","tag-clayton-kershaw","tag-dustin-may","tag-hyeseong-kim","tag-michael-conforto","tag-tommy-edman"],"modified_by":"Lewis Masella, Site Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98330","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5226"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98330"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98330\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":98352,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98330\/revisions\/98352"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/98351"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98330"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98330"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98330"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}