The Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t have an easy road to the World Series championship, as their pitching staff was plagued by injuries.

The champs took a major step to avoid that problem by signing left-hander Blake Snell to bolster the starting rotation.

According to ESPN, Snell has a five-year contract worth $182 million.

PLUGGING THE HOLES

By the time the Dodgers reached the playoffs, they only had three healthy starters and otherwise had to rely on the infamous “bullpen game.”

Snell will join Walker Buehler and Rookie of the Year Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Clayton Kershaw is a free agent, so he is a question mark to return to the Dodgers.

Don’t forget about Shohei Otani. The Dodgers designated hitter won the MVP with his bat alone, but he should return to the mound as well.

SNELL’S HISTORY

Snell, who will turn 32 next week, only spent one year with the San Francisco Giants before opting out the second year of his contract.

In 20 starts, Snell posted a 5-3 record with a 3.12 ERA. He pitched a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds on Aug. 2.

Snell’s greatest year was 2018, when he won the American League Cy Young Award with the Tampa Bay Rays. He went 21-5 with a 1.89 ERA.

He won the National League Cy Young Award with the San Diego Padres in 2023. Snell went 14-9 with a 2.25 ERA.