Who are the reigning kings of baseball? The Los Angeles Dodgers, for sure! But it’s better to be cautious about this claim. Their throne is not wobble-proof despite Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto‘s combined power making the wait until March too long. The culprit? Turns out, their pitching staff, which constitutes a talented bunch of players, is riddled with injuries and uncertainties.

It’s worth diving deep into this. Ohtani, the two-way MVP, won’t be seen taking the mound in 2024. Plus, no matter the hype and hefty price tag around Yamamoto, he is a rookie with no prior MLB experience. Tyler Glasnow who dons his explosive arm, has yet to make 130 innings in a season. And then comes the injury carousel – Walker Buehler (Tommy John), James Paxton (left flexor tendon), and Clayton Kershaw (shoulder surgery). Did this just break the cushy bubble?

They’ve Got Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, What’s There To Worry About?

Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic gave this discussion a whole new perspective. His words, “a lot of partial seasons” pretty much sums it all up. Yes, the Dodgers boast promising young guns, but with Nick Frasso out due to his shoulder surgery underscores a concern in their depth. Doesn’t it become easy to guess now?

This scenario draws a picture of a pitching staff pieced together as a patchwork quilt of talent and obscurity. Granted that when everyone is healthy, the Blue Crew can be unhinged. “But banking on health is a dangerous game to play”, and the Dodgers are taking a gamble as they roll the dice knowing they’ve got an elaborate injury report.

Ohtani cannot fill the pitching void the next year. Everyone knows why; to see Shotime pitch, it’s best to just wait till 2025. While there is no doubt that he is fabulous, solely relying on his hitting brilliance doesn’t solve their primary problem. Pitching. Which brings us to the next piece of the puzzle.

The Yamamoto Gamble. This 25-year-old has an impressive Japanese dominance. But have the Dodgers prepped him enough so he can tune his international greatness into MLB success? This is a leap of faith. A big one rather, considering how much financial backing has gone into this signing. There are two sides to this coin, either ‘Yoshi’ shines as anticipated or the Dodgers lose their bet on this unproven talent.

Watch This Story: Ranking The Top 5 Best Lineups In Baseball

These Are Not the Only Big Guns Posing Uncertainty For the Los Angeles Dodgers

There are a couple of more red flags. Glasnow, while he has undeniable talent, also has a history filled with injuries. Can he manage his health and workload at the same time? Before looking for an answer, ask the same question about Buehler and Paxton. Let’s not forget, that both of them are returning from major surgeries. Another piece of uncertainty is the Kershaw conundrum. The ace’s return is certainly a ray of hope, but this veteran’s slow recovery has left a bout of doubt.

Read More: Los Angeles Dodgers Under Pressure? Spring Training Intensity Builds Following $1 Billion Off-Season Splash

So, is Los Angeles sturdy enough to stand the pitching storm? It’s possible, but the route to winning the World Series is laden with too many ifs and buts. The season of 2024 is time for the franchise to do right by the hype and noise surrounding their off-season.