The 2025 season of the MLB has been plagued by injuries and uncertainties. Almost no team has been spared from their ‘injury crisis’ at this point in the league. Despite sitting comfortably at the top of the table, the Los Angeles Dodgers have had their own injury demons to cast. But, one of the members in the coaching staff recently spilled the beans on the strategy to keep their bullpen away from the injury list. 

The Dodgers are synonymous with excellence, boasting a roster replete with talent and a front office renowned for its strategic acumen. However, beneath the surface lies the true story of their firefight with player injuries. Teams are now looking to adapt more and lay down mitigation strategies to overcome any injury scare, especially mid-season.

Coming straight out of the horse’s mouth, Dodger’s pitching coach, Mark Prior, has opened up on their strategies to keep their players injury-free. He emphasized the importance of role-readiness and that it’s no longer about how many throws a pitcher releases. But it has become about being accustomed to high-pressure situations in the competition. 

“When they reach this level, sometimes they’re used to different roles and are asked to do things they might not be accustomed to. So, something we’ve looked into is trying to prepare them, whether they’re relievers on the rise or starters turning into relievers. All those factors matter, it’s like you’re speeding up the pace,” Prior told The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya. 

Prior’s statement can be validated by the fact that currently, many young talents are asked to switch between roles. A promising star from the minor league could be asked to step up and pitch in the seventh inning, for two consecutive nights in a row. The switch isn’t just a matter of tactics now, but also physiological and mental. 

That said, the boundaries between versatility and volatility need to be established for the pitchers. Very often, we have witnessed youngsters blur into volatility in pursuit of versatility. According to Prior, the transition isn’t just about altering warm-up routines or limiting pitch counts.

“When you get here, things change, and they change drastically. A player might pitch every six days; suddenly, you’re expected to throw multiple innings. That takes time to adjust, for your body to learn: ‘How do I do this daily?’, not just once,” the Dodger’s coach concluded. 

The statement from Prior only underscores the challenges faced by all teams regularly. Athletes must also condition their bodies to cope with the adversities of the schedule. If the lack of depth is not dealt with properly, it opens the door for fatigue-related injuries.

How is the Dodgers looking to dodge the injury bullet?

The Dodgers currently have a long list of pitchers on the injury list (13). The list includes starters Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow. Apart from the duo, Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Gavin Stone, and River Ryan are also among the prominent names in the list for the Dodgers. Apparently, the issue isn’t exclusive to the California-based club. Even the Yankees and Red Sox are suffering the consequences of it. Gerrit Cole, Marcus Stroman, Drew Thorpe, and Jesse Scholtens—all feature in the 60-day IL with their return date unknown. 

The rampant injury crisis in the league can be credited to the evolving nature of the game. Increased emphasis on velocity and spin rates has led to strain on pitchers’ arms. This has been resulting in injuries, particularly to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). 

To overcome the issue, the Dodgers have resorted to a multi-faceted approach. This includes looking to invest heavily in bolstering their pitching roster and implementing a six-man rotation scheme. They’re also utilizing biomechanical assessments to correct flaws in pitchers’ mechanics and customize the training regimen.

No strategy guarantees success in the elimination of injuries. Yet, the Dodgers have opted for a proactive approach rather than a reactive one. All in all, the move from the management is foresighted on players’ welfare, serving as a testament to their commitment to excellence.