Dodgers preseason capsule: Champions aim to be rare team to repeat

Los Angeles Dodgers

2024 record: 98-64 (1st place, NL West).

He gone: RHP Walker Buehler, RHP Jack Flaherty, RHP Joe Kelly, RHP Daniel Hudson, 2B Gavin Lux.

New faces: LHP Blake Snell, RHP Roki Sasaki, LHP Tanner Scott, RHP Kirby Yates, OF Michael Conforto, INF Hyeseong Kim.

Biggest question entering Opening Day: Even while winning the World Series last season, the Dodgers ran into their annual late-summer/early-fall issue of running out of pitching. They successfully navigated the postseason gauntlet with three starters and multiple bullpen games that became manager Dave Roberts' finest hour. In the Dodgers' latest attempt to address the issue, Snell and Sasaki were added to the rotation with arms such as LHP Clayton Kershaw and RHPs Shohei Ohtani, Tony Gonsolin, Bobby Miller and Emmet Sheehan ready to join the fray later this season.

Top prospect: C Dalton Rushing carries a major-league-ready bat as he improves on his defense behind the plate. He can even play outfield, first base and DH, but all of those spots are blocked by proven veterans.

Breakout player: Sasaki has all the tools to get the job done with a fastball that reaches 100 mph and a hybrid splitter/forkball that bottoms out when reaching the strike zone. Learning new hitters and staying healthy will be key, but he has all the tools to make a major impact.

2025 outlook: The starting staff and bullpen are improved, with championship experience added. All signs point to the Dodgers repeating as champion, but not so fast. No team has won in back-to-back seasons since the New York Yankees from 1998-2000.

--Field Level Media