Spring Training: Dodgers round into shape

Phoenix, Arizona – The Los Angeles Dodgers are seeking to become a three-peat World Series champion this season. But first, the champs have to go through the rigors of spring training to see what kind of team they have. 

Manager Dave Roberts is leading the way with the Dodgers getting acclimated to playing baseball again before the regular season begins. 

For the Dodgers, it’s the first time in two decades that pitching ace Clayton Kershaw will not be going through spring training drills. After 20 years with the Dodgers, Kershaw announced his retirement at the end of last season. 

Spring training is a chance for the Dodgers to get a good look at newcomers like pitcher Edwin Diaz and outfielder Kyle Tucker, both pickups in the offseason. The Dodgers signed Tucker, an All-Star, to a four-year, $240 million contract.  

They got Diaz, an All-Star himself,  to sign off on a three-year, $69 million deal. The Dodgers, which beat the Toronto Blue Jays to claim their second straight title, were already stacked with top-tier talent. 

Adding the likes of Tucker and Diaz only made the Boys in Blue even more formidable for opponents. 

While the signing of Tucker and Diaz are both eyebrow-raising acquisitions, the Dodgers bringing back and re-signing fan favorites Miguel Rojas and Kiki Hernandez, while also extending utility player Max Muncy, stabilizes the infrastructure of the ballclub.    

While National League MVP Shohei Ohtani is off playing in the World Baseball Classic, veterans Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman are making it through the grind of spring training as the team prepares for the regular season by playing in the Cactus League.  

So far, the Dodgers seem to be doing pretty well this spring. LA is in second-place in Cactus League play behind the San Francisco Giants. Photojournalist Vasco Dixon captures the Dodgers in action against the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Angels. 

The Dodgers dropped their contest against the Cubs in a 6-2 defeat. They then turned around and hosted the Angels, whom they defeated at Camelback Ranch by the score of 4-3 in a comeback win. 

Against the Cubs, the bats from the Dodgers were pretty quiet. The Dodgers managed just four hits against Chicago. That wasn’t the case against the Angels. After spotting the Angels a 3-0 lead at the top of the first inning, the Dodgers collected 13 hits to pull out the win. 

One of the more interesting notes about these two games is the fact that the Dodgers used the services of 17 pitchers combined. Against the Cubs, Roberts put eight pitchers on the mound. In the win against the Angels, their crosstown rivals, the Dodgers  used nine pitchers. 

Spring training is a good time for a team to learn about their pitching rotation. With Kershaw done and ace Blake Snell possibly being out of the regular season opener, Roberts could be using the extra bodies on the mound to determine what two pitchers could be added to his pitching staff. 

For the two-time champions, it’s a good dilemma to have. 

Camelback Ranch – Phoenix, Arizona – Los Angeles Dodgers utility player Miguel Rojas in action against the Chicago Cubs during Cactus League play in spring training on Feb. 28, 2026. Photo credit: Vasco Dixon / News4usonline