Dodgers: Hyun-Jin Ryu Should get the Opening Day Start

The Dodgers have started Clayton Kershaw every opening day since 2010.  For the first time since then, it appears Kershaw will not take the mound on opening day.

For nearly the past decade, Clayton Kershaw starting on opening day was a move that did not need to be announced.  It was expected that the best left-handed starting pitcher of the current generation would toe the rubber to throw the first pitches for the Dodgers’ season.  This season it appears that Kershaw won’t start opening day and the Dodgers will send out a different starter for the first time since Vicente Padilla started opening day in 2010.

While Clayton has not yet been ruled out to opening day, the Dodgers have been very quiet about his status and Dave Roberts has acknowledged that time is running out for Kershaw to be ready for opening day.  Many would like to see Walker Buehler get the opening day nod but the Dodgers are slow playing him so if Buehler does start the season on the active roster his start will most likely come after opening day.

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If Kershaw and Buehler are not options, the Dodgers should start Hyun-Jin Ryu on opening day.  While the rotation order does not really matter, it would be a good move to honor Ryu as he is the longest tenured Dodger in the rotation besides Kershaw.  Ryu began his Dodger tenure in 2013 when he burst onto the scene with a strong rookie campaign going 14-8 with a 3.00 ERA.

When healthy, Ryu has been a very good starter for the Dodgers as evidenced by his 3.20 career ERA and he led the Dodgers in 2018 with a stellar 1.97 ERA which was the lowest of his career.  Even with Kershaw healthy last postseason, the Dodgers decided to start Ryu in game one of the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves.

Since he is back through the qualifying offer, it’s possible this is Ryu’s last season in Los Angeles so giving him the opening day start would be a nice honor for him.  With the Dodgers’ first game coming at home against the Diamondbacks, it would make sense to start Ryu in the opener since his home ERA was much better at home last season with a 1.15 ERA at home.

The Dodgers are loaded with excellent starting pitchers so while the rotation order isn’t important, I would like to see Hyun-Jin Ryu get the call for the opening day start. It would be a nice way to show some love for Ryu who is the elder statesman of the rotation according to Dodger tenure.