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Dodgers: Rotation Options when DL Reinforcements Return

By Hector Ponce

PHOENIX, AZ - MAY 01: Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers walks to the dugout before the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 1, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - MAY 01: Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers walks to the dugout before the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 1, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX, AZ – MAY 02: Hyun-Jin Ryu #99 of the Los Angeles Dodgers leaves the game after sustaining an injury during the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 2, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

Option 2: Kershaw-Stripling-Hill-Buehler-Ryu….. Wood and Maeda to the Bullpen

So the top three in the rotation remains the same with Kershaw, Stripling, and Hill. No need to repeat but I will anyways because Stripling is having an unbelievable season. 3rd in the MLB in ERA (min 65 IP). That’s better than Scherzer, Kershaw, Arrieta, Greinke and Chris Sale. Just ridiculous from someone who was supposed to be a reliever.

Buehler has been ELECTRIC, this season. Currently, the front-runner to be the Dodger’s third consecutive ROY award winner. He has some of the best stuff in baseball and this season he is putting it together with pin point accuracy and it has been a deadly combination. He has a 2.63 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 54 strikeouts in just over 51 innings pitched this season.

Ryu is a very interesting case. He was having a comeback season, after being on the shelf again most of 2017. He was absolutely shoving with a 2.12 ERA and 0.88 WHIP before going down with a groin injury. It is hard to trust that he can stay healthy. However, when healthy he is a very good pitcher. Getting his spot back in the rotation would be no surprise.

That leaves Wood and Maeda in the bullpen.

Alex Wood could find himself in the bullpen or even worse, OKC if he does not continue to build on his last 2 starts. Wood has had a rough year and maybe a short stint in OKC would do him well, even a move to the bullpen can help, like it did with Maeda. The young lefty came into the season with high expectations maybe taking away some pressure will help him revert back to his 2017 form.

Maeda to the bullpen makes a whole lot of sense despite his success as a starter. He is an absolute beast out of the pen and was a go-to piece in the playoffs last season in that role. Secondly, it would be beneficial to the Dodgers front office if he did move to the bullpen as he would most likely not reach his incentives and they would have more money to work with should they make a deal this season

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