Dodgers Starting Rotation Order For NLDS 2026

The Los Angeles Dodgers needed to wait for the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies to play all three games of their Wild Card Series matchup in order to find out who their opponent would be in the National League Division Series.

That in turn caused somewhat of a delay in the Dodgers setting their starting rotation. In somewhat of a surprise, the Dodgers ultimately decided on an NLDS rotation order of Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow.

“I think we’re going to get there on Thursday. I say that because just trying to figure out opponent and the schedule going forward, not sure about game times and things like that,” manager Dave Roberts explained earlier this week. “We’re having conversations but we’re not definitive yet.

“I think opponent certainly should matter, could matter. Talking to Mark Prior about where guys are at. To be honest, we could really put all four guys in a hat and run them out there. But I think there is going to be more thought behind it. We don’t need to make a decision right now, so really just trying to be clear and talk through it.”

Dodgers starting pitchers for NLDS

A maximum of four starters are all that’s needed for the best-of-five NLDS anyhow, but Shohei Ohtani was previously ruled out from pitching again this year after his left knee and right bicep/arm injuries.

By starting Skubal and Snell in the first two games, L.A. seemingly is looking to take advantage of the Braves’ struggles against left-handed pitching.

Game 1: Tarik Skubal

As the newcomer to the Dodgers’ rotation, Skubal starting in Game 1 of the NLDS lines him up for a potential Game 5 as well. There had been some thought Yamamoto would start the Dodgers’ first playoff game of the year but he pitched in a simulated game on Wednesday.

So the Dodgers turn to Skubal, their prized addition at the MLB trade deadline this season. The prospect of the left-hander starting postseason games was something that already had Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman excited months ago.

One aspect to watch on Saturday is Skubal’s start coming amidst a Southern California heatwave that has temperatures expected to reach 100 degrees for the 1 p.m. PT game time.

Game 2: Blake Snell

Snell’s first outing of the 2026 postseason has him looking at a slightly different role than last October when the Dodgers almost exclusively used him (Wild Card, NL Championship Series and World Series) as their Game 1 starter. Ohtani started against the Phillies in the opener of the 2025 NLDS.

Snell’s Game 2 start in this year’s NLDS nonetheless will be pivotal as the Dodgers either will be looking to take a commanding 2-0 lead or avoid falling onto the brink of elimination.

Game 3: Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Yamamoto receiving the ball in Game 3 falls in line with his schedule from the end of the regular season. But it also amounts to the reigning World Series MVP seemingly only pitching once against the Braves.

That’s not to diminish his importance, of course. Yamamoto’s start in Game 3 will be pivotal regardless of how the series has unfolded to that point. He will either be looking to pitch the Dodgers into the NLCS, help them avoid being eliminated, or swing a tied series.

Game 4: Tyler Glasnow

The Dodgers could decide to pivot — perhaps if their season is on the line — but Glasnow for now is their probable to start Game 4.

That’s expected to come without first pitching out of the bullpen early in the NLDS, which the Dodgers had the benefit of last year because of a rare break in the schedule between Games 1 and 2.