Dodgers: Breaking down the 2017 Dodgers vs. 2019 Dodgers

Breaking down the pitching statistics

2019 Dodgers: 3.41 ERA, 3.76 FIP, 7.5 H/9IP, 9.4 K/9IP, 2.5 BB/9IP

2017 Dodgers: 3.38 ERA, 3.67 FIP, 7.6 H/9IP, 9.6 K/9IP, 2.8 BB/9IP

The 2017 and 2019 pitching staffs posted nearly identical statistics.  Which is interesting because the personnel has changed quite a bit especially in the bullpen.  Then there is also the fact that Clayton Kershaw and Kenley Jansen were both the prime versions of themselves in 2017.  Their stuff has diminished a bit although Kershaw is still a very effective pitcher.  The jury is still out on Jansen.

While Kershaw is not what he was in 2017 the good news for the 2019 Dodgers is that Hyun-Jin Ryu has become one of the best pitchers in baseball for the past year.  The 2019 Dodgers also have Walker Buehler who is capable of shutting down any team in baseball as he showed in the 2018 postseason.  The 2017 club had Alex Wood who had a great season and then for the postseason they added Yu Darvish.

In the bullpen the 2017 club had Brandon Morrow as an elite eighth inning reliever.  He was one of the best relievers in baseball during the 2017 season.  While the 2019 club doesn’t have Morrow, it is a deeper bullpen with Pedro Baez, Joe Kelly, Kenta Maeda, and Julio Urias all available as setup options.  Then there are the young talented pitchers in 2019 like Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin.

It’s hard to say which pitching staff is better but the 2019 staff feels like a much deeper pitching staff than the 2017 club.  The rotations are pretty equal but it is the bullpen where we could see a big difference in the postseason.  Dave Roberts won’t have to demand so much of Kenley Jansen during the upcoming playoff run,