Grading the Dodgers: Rotation

Sep 15, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Brett Anderson (35) throws the ball in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Brett Anderson: B

Anderson gets extra credit for surviving the season. He started 31 games this season, after starting 32 in the four previous years combined. The Dodgers took a flier on him in the offseason with a meaningless one-year, $10 million contract and he gave them 180 solid innings.

While he understandably fell off as the season went on, Anderson still ended the season with a respectable 3.69 ERA (3.94 FIP). He had the highest ground ball rate baseball has seen since 2006 and if it weren’t for a very high 17 percent home run/fly ball rate, it could have been an even better year for Anderson.

Anderson was signed as a fifth starter and injuries led to him being the third starter for most of the season. He wasn’t spectacular, especially compared to Greinke and Kershaw, but imagine how awful the rotation would have been if Anderson went down as well?

Anderson will likely get and decline a qualifying offer, making him a free agent. He also very well could come back on a slightly longer+slightly more expensive contract, and if he walks the Dodgers get a draft pick out of it.

Next: Surprise of the Season?