Gavin Stone’s Outlook Appears More Focused On 2027

Gavin Stone’s 2024 season was vital to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ success that year and set him up to have a prominent role in the starting rotation going forward.

Unfortunately for the 27-year-old, staying healthy has been a major issue ever since his debut season ended prematurely due to injury.

Stone has yet to make an appearance for the Dodgers in 2026 due to right shoulder inflammation, the same injury that ended his sophomore season and caused him to miss all of last year. He has been making good progress lately, raising the question of whether the Dodgers will activate him from the injured list.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts’ first priority is to keep Stone healthy, but he did not rule out the possibility of the right-hander contributing this month.

“Gavin’s been good. He’s been good. I think right now, and again, this is not talking to the guys in the player development, but it’s more of just getting him to stay upright, stay healthy, is a win for 2026,” he said.

“Is there a chance that he could impact us at some point in time in September? Possibly. I just don’t know that answer.”

Stone has made four rehab starts in Triple-A Oklahoma City since beginning his rehab assignment on Aug. 6. However, he hasn’t pitched since Aug. 27 because of a minor right bicep issue.

Stone is currently on the 60-day IL after beginning the season with the injury designation. He underwent an offseason procedure after the 2024 season to address right shoulder inflammation. Stone missed the entire 2025 season while recovering.

The former fifth-round pick was expected to compete for a rotation spot this year before experiencing further complications with his right shoulder during Spring Training. Stone’s four most recent Minor League starts mark his first time pitching in a game since Aug. 31, 2024.

Gavin Stone’s possible role

The Dodgers currently are running a four-man rotation, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Tarik Skubal. Roki Sasaki is a candidate to join the rotation once the team activates him from the 15-day IL, but the final verdict is still up in the air.

Last week, Roberts said Stone may work out of the bullpen and make spot starts if he is activated from the injured list.

It is not known if Eric Lauer landing on the 15-day IL or Shohei Ohtani’s continued unavailability has changed those plans. For the immediate need of a spot starter, the Dodgers appear likely to recall Emmet Sheehan.

Given Stone’s latest injury, he might not factor into the Dodgers’ pitching plans for the rest of this month.