Dodgers: Hyun-Jin Ryu Should be a Lock for the Playoff Rotation

The Dodgers still have a ways to go to clinch a playoff berth but an offensive outburst and the solid pitching of Hyun-Jin Ryu got the Dodgers back into first place on Monday night.

The Dodgers regained sole possession of first place last night thanks to an outburst of runs from the Dodger offense and the solid pitching of Hun-Jin Ryu.  While the Dodgers still have eleven games to go in the regular season, Ryu has made a strong case to be part of a potential playoff rotation.

Hyun-Jin Ryu has been one of the Dodgers’ best starting pitchers this season when he has been healthy.  For the season, Ryu has a 2.18 ERA which is the lowest in the Dodger rotation.  While many of the Dodger starters have seen a second half slide, Ryu has posted a 2.67 ERA.

In September, Ryu has posted a 3.27 ERA and despite a high opponent’s average allowed of .367, a lot of that damage was done in a fluke game by the Mets where they scored four unearned runs and recorded ten hits.  Most of the hit’s Ryu allowed that game were weakly hit balls that found their way through holes in the infield.

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Ryu’s only question has been his health.  Over the past few seasons, Ryu has dealt with some groin and shoulder injuries.  Now that Ryu is fully healthy, the results are improving, like the fact that Ryu has not allowed more than three earned runs in a start all season.  The one interesting split for Ryu is his home/road splits.

At home, Ryu has allowed just a 1.51 ERA and .223 batting average but on the road Ryu has allowed a 4.15 ERA.  Ryu also allows a lower opponent’s average at home .223 compared to on the road (.250 AVG).  If the Dodgers do give a playoff rotation spot to Ryu, which looks like the third starter in a possible playoff rotation.

Obviously Kershaw and Buehler are set, but after that is where the rotation gets thin.  Hyun-Jin Ryu should get the third spot with Alex Wood and Rich Hill struggling.  The only question left for Ryu is whether the Dodgers would try to get him to start a home playoff game.  The front office loves to play match ups, so it might just depend on who the Dodgers square off with in the first round.

Hyun-Jin Ryu will get at least two more starts for the Dodgers in the regular season, but if he doesn’t get knocked around he has all but sealed a spot in the Dodgers’ potential playoff rotation.  Kershaw, Buehler, and Ryu form a formidable playoff rotation, the only questions left to be decided are if the Dodgers try to start Ryu at home, and who gets the fourth and final spot in the playoff rotation.