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Los Angeles Dodgers: Top starting staffs in LAD history

By Jamaal Artis

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 02: Displays are seen during the Dodgers Holiday Festival media night at Dodger Stadium on December 02, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 02: Displays are seen during the Dodgers Holiday Festival media night at Dodger Stadium on December 02, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images) /
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1978 Los Angeles Dodgers

Starter Wins: 81

Starter ERA: 3.12

LOS ANGELES, CA – CIRCA 1980: Burt Hooton #46 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during an Major League Baseball game circa 1980 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Hooton played for the Dodgers from 1975-84. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – CIRCA 1980: Burt Hooton #46 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during an Major League Baseball game circa 1980 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Hooton played for the Dodgers from 1975-84. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

In 1978, the Los Angeles Dodgers won back to back NL pennants for their first time since 1965-66, mostly on the strength of their strong batting lineup.

But they also had a strong and durable starting staff.

Don Sutton, Tommy John, Burt Hooton, and Doug Rau all were double-digit winners, and except for Rau, who missed it by one inning (199), all pitched over 200 innings on the year. As a staff, the starters combined for 81 wins, the most since the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles.

Sutton was the veteran ace, but it was Hooton who was a revelation. He easily posted his best season in a Dodgers uniform, winning 19 games with an ERA of 2.71 to finish second in the Cy Young Award race.

Unfortunately for the Dodgers, their strong staff could not prevent another World Series loss.

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