Insider Reveals Reasons for Dodgers’ Pitchers’ Injuries

The Dodgers had nearly 20 pitchers spend an extended amount of time on the injured list in 2024, and at one point had as many as 14 pitchers on the injured list already in 2025.

Although the Dodgers have been able to weather the storm and find success despite the high rate of injuries, the sheer number has to be a concern.

New York Times reporters Sam Settleman and Alex Kirshner asked The Athletic's Dodgers reporter Fabian Ardaya why this injury trend in Los Angeles could be occurring.

One of Ardaya's main points was the pitchers the Dodgers have targeted when acquiring talent.

"They have absolutely gone out and targeted talented arms with checkered injury histories," Ardaya told The New York Times. "Part of how they rationalized acquiring Glasnow was the ability to lock-down a premium level talent at a less-than-premuim cost."

Ardaya also alluded to the Dodgers' ability to develop talent in their minor leagues. This has allowed them to get either enough innings out of young pitchers at the major league level or develop them into valuable trade pieces for the future.

The Dodgers seem to be pushing their pitchers as far as they can go and getting their best, but it is coming at a cost: high risk of injury.

"They aren't the only team prioritizing velo and spin, but they seemingly go closest to the red line. They had the hardest-throwing rotation in the sport at Double-A Tulsa in 2023. All of those guys have since either gotten hurt or hit a bump in the road," Ardaya told The New York Times. "Some of that is an occupational hazard. Another part of it is that the stuff it took to get those guys to the big leagues is what caused them to break down."

Whether this strategy is sustainable for the Dodgers is unknown. They've been able to sustain undeniable success for the last decade, but will the injuries eventually catch up to them?

After all, even with nearly 15 pitchers injured already in 2025, the Dodgers still hold the best record in the NL and lead their division as we approach the All-Star break.