Dodgers: 3 Creative Options for Right-Handed Starting Pitching

The Dodgers’ rotation is one of the best in the league but they are still missing something, and that is some balance.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have the third best starting rotation ERA in the league so your initial reaction would be of confusion when reading this. Yes, they have a staff that has been pitching very well this season. In fact, they have too many starters. Last month they used seven different starting pitchers at least three times each and not solely because of injuries.

The Dodgers utilized the disabled list to make room for all of their starters, and outside of Julio Urias, they got good to great performances from everyone. The locks for the rotation, when healthy, appear to be Clayton Kershaw, Alex Wood, and Brandon McCarthy. After them, there are questions, whether it be inconsistency or health.

No matter how good the starters have been, the Dodgers can still improve. Five of the seven starters are left-handed, so balance is needed, especially in the playoffs. The two righties are Kenta Maeda and Brandon McCarthy, and they are ones who you can’t and shouldn’t place all your chips on.

Maeda has been inconsistent and has struggled to go deep into games. McCarthy has been a much-needed surprise, but his injury history says you can’t put all your trust in him. He left yesterday’s start due to a blister problem. And here I thought only Rich Hill would have the blister problems. McCarthy’s hopeful for Tuesday’s start, but you can never be too sure with him.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports recently reopened the rumor mill linking Sonny Gray to the Dodgers via trade. However, to make things fun, let’s stay away from the obvious and get creative. Let’s take a look at right-handed arms that haven’t been linked, heavily or at all, to Los Angeles but who would still be great fits. So this means no Chris Archer or Justin Verlander and a pitcher such as Alex Cobb has already been covered.