The following players are among those due to return from the injured list for the Dodgers at some point in the second half: closer Edwin Díaz; starting pitchers Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow; catcher Will Smith; and utility man Kiké Hernández.
That is quite the haul of reinforcements. Given all those returning stars, how much do the Dodgers really need to add ahead of the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline?
That question will dictate how the next several weeks go for the Dodgers, who have been a few big names away from full strength for the entire first half of their three-peat bid -- and who have dominated anyway.
Record at the break: 61-36 (1st in NL West, 11 1/2-game lead)
Record at the break last year: 58-39 (1st in NL West, 5 1/2-game lead)
Playoff odds: 100% (via FanGraphs)
Remaining strength of schedule: .495 (19th in MLB)
As a general rule, the Dodgers prefer to make their biggest deals during the offseasons and improve on the margins during Deadline season. Their roster needs ultimately dictate their course of action, which led to them taking different approaches in each of their back-to-back championship seasons.
In 2024, the Dodgers swung big at the Deadline. They addressed their sore need for starting pitching by acquiring Jack Flaherty from the Tigers. They also made a three-team deal with the Cardinals and White Sox that saw them acquire Tommy Edman and Michael Kopech, both of whom played big roles in the title run.
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In 2025, the Dodgers wound up going smaller at the Deadline. Their two main acquisitions were righty reliever Brock Stewart and fourth outfielder Alex Call. They also restocked on organizational depth by trading Dustin May to the Red Sox and taking part in a minor three-team trade with the Rays and Reds.
This year, the approach feels like it could be more similar to last year. The Dodgers could again buy and sell if they feel good about where their roster stands, improving the present-day product while freshening up the farm system for the future.
L.A. excelled in the first half -- despite so many notable players missing time -- on the strength of its depth. The roster should only get better as long as the team continues to get healthier. There is no guarantee of that in this game, but if the Dodgers learned anything in the first half, it's that the diminished version of their club can more than hold its own with the best in the Majors.
Here's a rundown of what to keep an eye on heading into the second half:
Biggest need: Rotation reinforcements
This could come internally, as the Dodgers have both Snell (surgery to remove left elbow loose bodies) and Glasnow (lower back spasms) on the mend. In an ideal world, Snell will be back in the rotation by mid-August, followed by Glasnow around the end of that month. If either starter has some sort of setback, that could create a need to seek external rotation help ahead of the Trade Deadline.
Biggest chip: Almost any of the top outfield prospects
Top Dodgers prospect Josue De Paula (No. 4 overall, per MLB Pipeline) is as close to untouchable as they come. L.A. has five other outfielders ranked in the Top 100: Mike Sirota (No. 11), Zyhir Hope (No. 19), Eduardo Quintero (No. 31), Charles Davalan (No. 84) and James Tibbs III (No. 93). Whether the Dodgers are assembling a trade package or looking to diversify their organizational depth, this is a clear area of strength from which to deal.
Key player for second half: RF Kyle Tucker
Tucker has fallen short of the expectations that came with his four-year, $240 million contract, although he seemed to be gaining some momentum heading into the All-Star break. The Dodgers were one of the highest-scoring teams in baseball in the first half, but even so, the offensive production has been inconsistent for much of the season. Having Tucker perform closer to his capabilities in the heart of the order would considerably lengthen the lineup.
Determining factor: How much can Dodgers depend on IL reinforcements?
The Dodgers could have a dream Trade Deadline without making a deal if all of their key players on the IL come back healthy. But is that a realistic expectation? L.A.'s direction as the Deadline approaches will be greatly influenced by the status of its rehabbing players. The Dodgers are not expecting every injured player back by Aug. 3, but by then, they should have a good idea of what external additions -- if any -- they'll need.