Dodgers to Shake Up Rotation by Removing Struggling Starter as Pitching Concerns Mount in Critical Phase of 2025 Season
The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the 2025 season with one of the most hyped pitching staffs in baseball. On paper, it looked like a dominant unit—anchored by Tyler Glasnow, Walker Buehler’s anticipated return, and bolstered by emerging talents like Bobby Miller and Gavin Stone. Add in the looming presence of Shohei Ohtani, and the expectation was simple: this rotation would be elite, durable, and dominant. But midway through the season, the Dodgers find themselves in a far different reality, and after weeks of internal deliberation, they’ve decided to remove one of their key starting pitchers from the rotation.
It’s a move that signals both urgency and disappointment. The team hasn’t officially named the replacement yet, but multiple reports confirm that right-hander Gavin Stone is being moved out of the starting rotation. Once considered one of the Dodgers’ most promising young arms, Stone has struggled with command, composure, and consistency in 2025. His ERA has ballooned over 5.00, his WHIP remains high, and he’s failed to get past the fourth inning in three of his last four starts. While the raw stuff is there, the results haven’t followed—and in a division as tight as the National League West, the Dodgers can no longer afford to gamble on potential alone.
This decision didn’t come lightly. Stone has long been a prized product of the Dodgers’ player development pipeline, a pitcher with the kind of high-upside arsenal that teams covet. But the reality is that he’s become a liability in a rotation that is already stretched thin due to injuries and underperformance. His last outing—a disastrous 2.1-inning start against the Diamondbacks in which he allowed seven earned runs and three walks—was the final straw. The coaching staff met immediately afterward, and while no official announcement was made postgame, the writing was on the wall.
Manager Dave Roberts has since confirmed the change, though he’s remained vague about the long-term plan. “Gavin’s a competitor, and he’s going to be part of our future,” Roberts said. “But right now, we need to stabilize our rotation and give ourselves the best chance to win every five days. That means making a difficult call.” Roberts did not specify whether Stone will be demoted to Triple-A, moved to a long-relief role, or used in bullpen matchups, but insiders believe the Dodgers will keep him on the active roster to continue working with pitching coach Mark Prior on mechanics and mental approach.
Stone’s struggles are emblematic of a larger issue for the Dodgers this season: inconsistency in the rotation. Tyler Glasnow, though at times brilliant, has dealt with forearm tightness and hasn’t looked like a true ace every time out. Buehler’s velocity is down since returning from surgery, and he’s yet to string together back-to-back dominant outings. Bobby Miller missed over a month with shoulder fatigue, and his return has been rocky. James Paxton, signed as a low-risk veteran presence, has performed admirably in stretches, but even he has dealt with control issues.
And then there’s the Shohei Ohtani factor. While he’s been sensational at the plate, his recovery from elbow surgery has kept him from pitching all year, and the team has recently downplayed any chance of him taking the mound before late August—if at all. That means a rotation that was expected to be bolstered by one of the best two-way talents in the sport is now operating without that critical piece, and the pressure has shifted entirely onto the remaining arms.
The timing of this rotation shake-up is critical. The Dodgers are in the middle of a brutal stretch of games against division rivals, including the Giants and Padres, and their grip on first place is tenuous at best. The offense, led by Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman, has done its part more often than not. But when the pitching falters—as it did repeatedly during a recent 2-5 road trip—the cracks become impossible to hide.
In removing Stone from the rotation, the Dodgers are hoping to stop the bleeding. But the next step is equally important: who replaces him?
Internal options are thin. Michael Grove is a possibility, though he too has been inconsistent in limited action. Landon Knack has impressed in Triple-A and could be called up to make his major league debut, but relying on a rookie in the middle of a divisional dogfight is risky. The team could opt for a bullpen game or use an opener strategy for the time being, but that’s not sustainable across multiple turns through the rotation.
There’s also the looming trade deadline. With Stone removed, the urgency to acquire a starting pitcher increases significantly. Names like Garrett Crochet (White Sox), Luis Severino (Mets), and Jack Flaherty (Tigers) have already been floated as potential targets, and the Dodgers certainly have the prospect capital to make a move. The question is whether they want to go all-in right now or wait to see if their internal arms can stabilize.
Historically, the Dodgers have been cautious but opportunistic at the deadline. They prefer players with club control beyond just one season, and they’ve typically stayed away from overpriced rentals. But this year may be different. The window to win with this current core—Ohtani, Betts, Freeman, and the remaining years of their dominant bullpen pieces—is narrowing. Another early playoff exit would be considered a failure, and the front office knows that.
There’s also the matter of clubhouse morale. Players see when moves are made. Removing Stone, a beloved teammate but underperforming contributor, is a signal to the rest of the team that management is serious about turning things around. It can galvanize a locker room—or fracture it, depending on how the transition is handled. For now, there’s cautious optimism among the veterans that a reset is what’s needed.
Freddie Freeman, never one to mince words, offered his perspective: “It’s not about potential in July. It’s about production. Gavin’s going to be great one day, but right now we’ve got to win. That’s the standard here.”
That standard—World Series or bust—is what makes every move the Dodgers make so high-stakes. Stone’s demotion from the rotation won’t solve all their problems, but it could be the first step toward a more reliable pitching foundation. Whether it leads to a trade, a breakout from another young pitcher, or a reshuffling of roles remains to be seen. But what’s clear is that the Dodgers are no longer willing to wait for struggling players to figure it out while the standings tighten.
For Gavin Stone, this is undoubtedly a setback—but not a death sentence. Many young pitchers have gone through growing pains, especially under the spotlight of a big-market contender. The Dodgers believe in his talent, and they’re hopeful he’ll return stronger, sharper, and more composed. His fastball velocity and changeup movement still rank well above league average. The problem is execution, location, and adapting to hitters who have started to key in on his tendencies.
For the Dodgers, however, there’s little time to focus on development. The second half of the season looms, the Wild Card race is crowded, and the Dodgers—once again—are expected to rise above the chaos and deliver a championship run. Whether this rotation move helps that cause will depend on what happens next: who replaces Stone, whether the front office pulls the trigger on a trade, and if the remaining starters can find a rhythm that’s so far eluded them.
One thing is for certain: the Dodgers have made their move. Now the clock starts ticking again.
