dodger lefties not named Koufax or Kershaw

Sometime in 2031 Clayton Kershaw will become the second Dodger left-handed pitcher in the Hall of Fame. Technically there will be three if you include Lasorda, who was also a left-handed pitcher, but he is in as a manager. During their time in Los Angeles, there have been several other lefties who although not Hall of Famers, they were very good and contributed to the Dodgers legacy and history.

Johnny Podres: Podres was 25 when the Dodgers moved to LA from Brooklyn. He had already cemented himself in Dodger history winning two games in the Dodgers only championship in Brooklyn in 1955. He was the MVP of that series. He won the ERA title in 1956. He had joined the Dodgers in 1953 and missed one year to military service. He would be an All-Star four times including twice in 1960 when MLB decided it was a good idea to play two games. He had 8 seasons, seven in a row, 57-63, where he won in double figures. His record in World Series play was 4-1. He lost his first decision in 1953. He pitched game 2 of the 63 World Series and it was the only game in which a relief pitcher appeared. Perranoski finished the last 2 outs in the 9th in the 5-2 win. He was sold to the Tigers in May of 1966 and became a pitching coach, mainly for the Phillies after he retired. His record as a Dodger was 136-104 with a 3.66 ERA. Podres passed away on January 13th, 2008, at the age of 75.

Ron Perranoski: The Dodgers acquired Perranoski along with Johnny Goryl, a SS and Lee Handley, an outfielder in April of 1960 for SS Don Zimmer. Goryl and Handley never played for LA. Perranoski would become the first Dodger pitcher to record 100 saves. He joined the big club in 1961. In 1963, he had his best season as a Dodger. He had a 16-3 record with 21 saves. His ERA was 1.67, and he did not make the All-Star team. He was 4th in the MVP voting behind his teammate Koufax, who won the award. He pitched 2/3rds of an inning in the 63 series and was the only reliever to see action. Perranoski was traded to the Twins along with P Bob Miller and C Johnny Roseboro for SS Zoilo Versalles and P Mudcat Grant in November of 1967. His record with LA was 54-41 with exactly 100 saves his ERA was 2.56. He would finish his career with 178 saves. He led the AL twice while a Twin with 31 in 1969 and 34 in 1970. He was the Dodgers pitching coach from 1981-94.

Claude Osteen: After the 64 season, the Dodger brain trust decided they needed another starting pitcher. Podres had been injured most of the year and Ortega, Joe Moeller and Larry Miller had been less than inspiring, none having a winning record behind the two aces, Koufax and Big D. So, in December they sent Frank Howard, Phil Ortega, Ken McMullen, Pete Riechert and Dick Nen to the Senators for Claude Osteen and SS John Kennedy and 100,000 dollars. Osteen would pitch to a 15-15 record with a 2.79 ERA. LA had 3 lefties in their four-man starting rotation as Podres started 22 games. Claude was 1-1 in the World Series, winning the pivotable game 3 after Koufax and Big D lost games 1&2. He lost game six, setting up the game seven showdown between Koufax and Kaat. Osteen spent 9 years in LA with a 147-126 record, 3.09 ERA. He was traded to the Astros in 1973 with a minor leaguer for Jimmy Wynn. After he retired, he became a pitching coach for several organizations including the Phillies, Rangers and Dodgers.

Jim Brewer: Some might say Jim Brewer? But Brewer, along with Perranoski are the only left-handed pitchers with more than 100 saves in Dodger history. Brewer held the record at 126 until he was passed by Todd Worrell in 1997. Worrell finished with 127. Brewer came to the Dodgers in a trade with the Cubs in December of 1963 along with Cuno Barragan for LHP Dick Scott. It has to be one of the most lopsided trades in MLB history. Barragan never played for LA and Scott pitched in just 3 games for the Cubs and never pitched in the majors again. Brewer on the other hand pitched for LA for 12 seasons compiling a 61-51 record, a 2.62 ERA and the aforementioned 126 saves. LA traded him to the Angels in July of 1975 for a minor leaguer. Brewer died on November 16th, 2 days after his 50th birthday from injuries suffered in an automobile accident in Tyler, Texas.

Doug Rau: Doug Rau is mostly forgotten by Dodger fans, but he had a few moments in the sun, and 1974-78, he was a cog in the Dodgers starting rotation having wins in double figures in all of those years winning 74 games in that span. His ERA was usually in the mid 3's. He wasn't spectacular and strike out a lot of hitters, he was just pretty consistent. His strikeout to walk ratio was 2-1. Rau is most remembered though for being the target of one of Lasorda's most famous tirades. In game 4 of the 77 World Series, Lasorda went to the mound to remove Rau after the Yankees had tagged him for 2 doubles a single and a run in the top of the 2nd inning. Lasorda was miced up for the broadcast. What followed during the argument was one of the most profanity laced tirades by Tommy on record. For his career, Doug was 0-2 in playoff games and had an 80-58 record with a 3.30 ERA in parts of 8 season with LA. Arm injuries would force him to retire at 32 after a 3-game stint with the Angels in 1981.

Jerry Ruess: The Dodgers sent Rick Rhoden to the Pirates for Ruess prior to the 1979 season. Reuss went 7-14 for the 79 team with a 3.54 ERA. But in 1980, he had one of his best years. He was 18-6 with a 2.51 ERA, 4th best in MLB, and he threw a no-hitter against the Giants in June, striking out just 2. But he just missed a perfect game because of a Bill Russell throwing error in the first inning. He was the first LA Dodger left-hander to throw a no hitter who was not named Koufax. Reuss would pitch 9 years in LA, with an 86-69 record and a 3.11 ERA. He was an All-star in 1980 and finished 2nd to Steve Carlton in the Cy Young vote. He also received some MVP votes that year. He was 2-5 in the postseason as a Dodger.

A little note before the next one, I have already profiled two Dodger left-handers who made huge impacts on the team, so to add them here would be a bit redundant, but they should be mentioned. One is Tommy John, who we all know was a very good pitcher in Los Angeles and has the surgery named for him. The other is Fernando. Valenzuela's impact on the organization can never be trivialized. He made a huge impact on the field and in the community. The question on both of these players, is are they Hall worthy? John has longevity in his corner, he also has more wins than Kaat, Blyleven, Robin Roberts, Fergie Jenkins and Burleigh Grimes. who all are in the Hall of Fame. He also was 6-3 in post season play. But he never won a major award and he has no rings. Valenzuela's career numbers do not match up. He did win a Cy Young and a ROY and pitched a no-hitter. It is my belief that someday he might make it on contributions to the game or go in the broadcaster's wing like Jaime Jarrin.

After Valenzuela left in 1990, the Dodgers rotation was made up of right handers until 1998 when they traded for Carlos Perez. Perez was not all that good. So, after the 2001 season, they traded for another Perez, Odalis. Odalis's first two seasons were meh, he went 27-22. He made 31 starts in 2004 going 7-6 in what would be his final year in the rotation. He would make 47 more starts for LA before being traded to the Royals in 2006 for Elmer Dessens. In 2007, Kershaw joined the rotation. Randy Wolf joined him on 08 and in 09 it was Ted Lilly. Lilly spent 2 years in the rotation and in 12 it was Chris Capuano who took his place.

Hyun Jin-Ryu: In 2013 the Dodgers signed LHP Hyun Jin-Ryu out of the KBO. He was 26 years old. Ryu would finish 4th in the ROY vote that year posting a 14-8 record with a 3.00 ERA. He had almost the same numbers in 14, 14-7 3.38 ERA. Ryu struck out 154 batters his first year and walked just 49. In 14 he struck out 139 and walked just 29. He did have some injurie issues in 14 and started 26 games, where he had started 30 in 13. 2015 was lost due to a shoulder issue which would require surgery. In 2016, he pitched in just one game and was lit up. In 17 and 18 he would pitch in 40 games combined and have a 12-12 record, although his ERA in 18 was just 1.97. Finally, back at full strength in 19, he would win the ERA title with a 2.32 mark and go 14-5. He got one of the Dodgers two wins in the LDS against the Nationals. He then went to Toronto as a free agent and returned to the Korean League after leaving the Jays. He is still pitching there for the Hanwha Eagles at age 39. Record as a Dodger 54-33 with a 2.98 ERA.

Julio Urias: Urias was found by Mike Brito when he was 14. The Dodgers signed him when he was 16 and he debuted at Great Lakes in 2013. In 2016 at 19 years old, he made his debut in the majors against the Mets on May 26th, 2016. He was the youngest Dodger starting pitcher to debut since 18-year-old Rex Barney in 1943. He lasted just 2.2 innings giving up 3 runs. He went 5-2 that first year with a 3.39 ERA. He pitched 2 innings of relief in the LDS against the Nats and got the win. He started a game in the LCS against the Cubs and got the loss. LA started him in extended spring training in 17 and he went 0-2 when he was called up. After being sent down to OKC, he tore the anterior capsule in his left arm and was shut down while undergoing surgery and recovery. He pitched in 3 games in the 18 season and was added to the post season roster. He got a win in the LCS against the Brewers with 3.1 innings of scoreless relief and pitched three innings against Boston in the World Series allowing 1 run.

The Dodgers continued monitoring his innings in 19-20, he was 4-3 in 19 used mostly out of the pen. He was suspended 20 games for a domestic battery charge at the end of the season. He was 3-0 during the pandemic season, starting 7 of his 8 appearances. In the 2020 post season, Urias shined. He was 4-0 with a save that came in the clinching game six in the World Series. Against the Brewers, Padres and Braves he went 4-0 allowing just 2 runs, only 1 of them earned in 16 innings pitched. He allowed 2 runs, both on homers in his game four start against the Rays, LA eventually lost 8-7. He went 4.2 innings, striking out 9, walking 1 and allowing 4 hits. In game six, he relieved Graterol with 2 outs in the 7th and shut down the Rays the rest of the way, striking out Willy Adames for the last out of the series.

With no restrictions on innings or games in 2021, Urias had a career year, he went 20-3, struck out 195 hitters and walked just 38. He was 7th in the Cy Young vote. He was 1-1 in the playoffs, beating the Giants but losing to Atlanta. He signed a one year 8-million-dollar deal prior to the 22 season. In 22 he started 31 games and had a 17-7 record. He won the ERA title with a 2.16 mark. He started and won game one of the LDS which LA would lose in 4 to the Padres. He signed a one-year 14.35-million-dollar contract in his last year of arbitration. He would start 21 games for the Dodgers in 23, pitching to an 11-8 record with a 4.60 ERA. On September the 6th, MLB placed him administrative leave due to his arrest in a domestic violence case. His contract expired at the end of the season and he was a free agent. His admin leave became a suspension and on March 21, 2025, a year and a half after he last played in the majors, MLB announced they were formally suspending Urias through the 2025 All-Star break. What took so long? MLB explained they were waiting to see what would happen through the courts. Urias eventually had to take domestic violence classes for a year and pay into the domestic violence fund. He has not been signed by any MLB team as of now. He is now 29 years old. Such a waste of talent.

There are two guys I should mention, Alex Wood and Rich Hill. Wood came to the Dodgers in 2015 in a trade with Atlanta. The Braves sent four players and Wood to LA, with the Dodgers sending 4 minor leaguers and Paco Rodriguez and Hector Olivera to the Braves and Marlins. LA also got Mat Latos and Mike Morse in the deal from the Marlins. Wood would have one really good season in LA. In 2017, he was 16-3 with a 2.72 ERA. He won 9 in 18 and won LA's only game against Boston in the World Series in relief. He finished his career in 2024 with the A's. Rich Hill came to LA in a trade with the Astros in 2016 along with outfielder Josh Reddick for Grant Holmes, Frankie Montas and Jharel Cotton. He went 3-2 in 6 games. He was 1-1 in the post season. He won 12 games in 17 and 11 in 18 and then injuries popped up and he was 4-1 in 2019. Fans loved Dick Mountain" as he was called. One of his best games was actually a loss to the Pirates in August of 2017. Hill held the Pirates hitless through 9 innings. But the Dodgers failed to score against the Pirates starter Williams, and the Pirate pen despite having 8 hits and 4 walks. He had a perfect game through 8 innings until Logan Forsythe made an error in the 9th. Taking the mound for the bottom of the 10th, he gave up a lead-off walk off homer to Josh Harrison. Hill continued to pitch until 2025 when he finally retired. He is now employed by ESPN as a studio analyst.

Well there they are, hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane.