Dodgers: Top Three Surprises of the First Half of the Season

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DENVER, COLORADO – JUNE 28: Starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu #99 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on June 28, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

The breakouts of Hyun-Jin Ryu and Cody Bellinger

The biggest surprise of the Dodgers’ first half is really centered around the same thing. Breakouts. Cody Bellinger and Hyun-Jin Ryu have taken their game to new heights in the first half of the season and both were named starters for the National League in the All-Star game.

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For Hyun-Jin Ryu, he has somehow topped his injury-plagued 2018 season in which he posted a stellar ERA of 1.97. This season, Ryu has an ERA of 1.83 and has already passed his start total from the 2018 season. That ERA is still the best in baseball after he was knocked around at the nightmare known as Coors Field.

For Cody Bellinger, this was also a breakout that nobody saw coming in the first half. After a sophomore slump in which he became ineffective against lefties, Bellinger has become one of the best hitters in the game and has 27 home runs which beats his 2018 season total of 25. Belli has also been an on-base machine with his .442 on-base percentage.

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Against southpaw pitching, Bellinger has been slightly better than he has against righties, hitting .347 with a slugging percentage over .700. Bellinger has a real chance at the triple crown if he can beat out Christian Yelich in home runs. Add in his stellar defense in right field, and Cody also has a real shot at being the National League MVP in 2019.