Grading the Dodgers: Rotation

October 2, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Alex Wood (57) pitches the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Alex Wood: C-

The Dodgers traded very little and got a lot back from the Braves. They traded Hector Olivera, Paco Rodriguez and four minor leaguers at the deadline, and got back Wood, Bronson Arroyo, Luis Avilan, Jim Johnson, Jose Peraza from the Braves, as well as two other players from the Marlins. It’s hard to call the trade a failure because it’s not like the Braves got the better side of it, and the Dodgers got a useful reliever and two good young players.

Wood has been a solid starter for the Braves, but this was his worst season so far and his 12 starts with the Dodgers did not go too well. He posted a 4.35 ERA (4.10 FIP) in 12 Dodger starts and while he’s been a second/third starter in Atlanta, he was pretty disappointing as a Dodger.

In August, Wood was pretty consistently mediocre. He gave up 16 runs in six August starts and never got through seven innings. His September was a lot less balanced, as he gave up no runs in two starts, two runs in two starts, and gave up six and eight runs in starts. He had his two best Dodger starts in September, but also had his two worst starts of the season in the month. He showed promise and then he showed the ability to get rocked.

Wood turns 25 in January and is still pre-arb, so he’ll probably be back next year. With hopefully another ace next to Kershaw, combined with hopefully Hyun-jin Ryu and Brandon McCarthy returning, Wood could be the best number five starter in baseball. Worst case scenario, Wood could probably be a deadly lefty reliever out of the bullpen, but I’d feel comfortable about him as a fifth starter.

Next: The Awful Trade Deadline Move