Dodgers: Starting Pitcher Grades for August

Wood was having a breakthrough year this season. There was even some early discussion of him competing for a Cy Young award. But in July he had his first bad month. He had a 4.01 ERA in July. But he bounced back during August. This month he had a 2.52 ERA bouncing back from his bad July and returning to the good form that he possessed this entire season.

He was the only starter to make it past six innings in every start that he made. What makes this month even more impressive is what Wood was working through. He was dealing with a decrease in his velocity due to some soreness, but he was still able to make do and pitch and a near elite level even without having his best stuff. Elite pitchers manage to put together a good performance without their A-stuff like Wood did this month.

Next: Barnes the Starter?

He was consistent in all of his starts.  He gave up seven runs in his four starts. But most of those runs came from solo home-runs which are something the Dodgers can live with. He was very good at not allowing opposing teams to manufacture runs. He would often get himself out of jams. The runs came off batters who preyed on his dip in velocity. Wood was great all month long.