The Dodgers list of player on the IL is not only long, but the level of talent is staggering and would make plenty of MLB teams jealous.
Mookie Betts headlines a group that features a couple of key pieces to Los Angeles's lineup, a full pitching rotation, and a dynamite bullpen.
The other hitters alongside Betts on the IL are Max Muncy and Jason Heyward. That trio combined for 12.6 wins above replacement last season, which would've been the 24th-best mark among all teams in 2023.
Their IL pitching staff would be the best in baseball by a significant margin. Tyler Glasnow is there, as are Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Walker Buehler, Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin and Emmet Sheehan. Just the pitchers on IL for the Dodgers could carve out a seven-man rotation, and a darn good one. Their combined WAR last season (plus Yamamoto this season) was 10.7. That mark for those seven would've ranked 25th among all pitching staffs last year.
Quick note: with Glasnow and Betts both on the injured list, the Dodgers have more All-Stars on the IL (two) than the Angels, A's, Blue Jays, Cardinals, Cubs, Diamondbacks, Mariners, Marlins, Mets, Nationals, Rays, Rockies, Twins and White Sox. For those keeping score at home, that's one team shy of half the league.
Then there are the handful of relievers on the IL, including Brusdar Graterol, Ryan Brasier, Joe Kelly and Michael Grove. Combined WAR for that quartet last season: 4.2, bringing the total WAR from last season (or each player's last full season, or in Yamamoto's case this season) on the IL for the Dodgers to a whopping 27.5. By comparison, the Giants as a team last year accumulated 28.7 total WAR.
LA has done well to not only stay afloat, but to thrive despite missing so much talent. That they're still comfortably leading the National League West is a testament to the depth they've built on their Major League roster and in the Minors. If they're able to get anywhere close to healthy by October, they could wind up as the favorite to win it all.