Life Without Clayton Kershaw
Really, it s not gloom and doom! Last year, when Clayton had the herniated disk, everyone wondered what the team would do. It turns out that Kershaw s injury galvanized them and others stepped up to fill the void. Not only did they not miss a beat, but they thrived. I, for one, do not expect the same thing to happen this year, although I believe there is no reason to panic .
Really, it’s not gloom and doom!
Last year, when Clayton had the herniated disk, everyone wondered what the team would do. It turns out that Kershaw’s injury galvanized them and others stepped up to fill the void. Not only did they not miss a beat, but they thrived. I, for one, do not expect the same thing to happen this year, although I believe there is no reason to panic. This Dodger team has depth which give them options. Let’s look ands see who might step up into the rotation.
Brock Stewart – Brock Stewart is certainly being groomed as a starter, but in order to succeed as one on this level, he needs a better curveball. He has had great success out of the bullpen and I think the Dodgers will leave him there for a couple of reasons: (1) Boost his confidence ; and (2) he is a real asset to the team in the pen – they need him and a few others to win it all.
Wilmer Font – As AC mentioned, Font has re-established himself as a prospect with his pitching at OKC. He has a fastball that goes up to the mid-90’s, has excellent control and Knows how to pitch. In 101.1 innings at OKC he has given up 82 hits while striking out 137 and walking only 27. His ERA is 3.82 and his WHIP is 1.13. That is excellent for the PCL. He certainly could start, but I’d like to see him in the pen, but that’s just me. Font has only allowed 9 HR in the PCL!
Justin Masterson – As a former Top Prospect and MLB Pitcher, he has to get some consideration. His ERA is 3.88 and his WHIP is 1.28. He has pitched 109 innings, allowing 90 hits with 109 K’s and 50 BB. The biggest difference between him and Font is that he has allowed just 6 HR. So, there is that. I have got to believe that Masterson could start for some MLB teams. Just not the Dodgers.
Trevor Oaks – He has been injured and has regressed somewhat because of it. I think he needs to pitch some more at the AAA level, but I see him being converted to a reliever soon.
Walker Buehler – Buehler has “ACE” written all over him, but he will not start for the Dodgers this year. I doubt we see him until September unless he suddenly is “Lights out” at AAA and there are more injuries. Next year, he’s in the rotation.
Ross Stripling – I think Ross is a huge asset to the bullpen, even though he has had a few hiccups. His ERA of 3.55 is not what I would like it to be, but a few bad pitches have cost him this year. The thing is: Ross sees himself as a starter, not a reliever, so much so that I think it messes with his head. If I were the Dodgers, I would install Ross into the rotation – it’s likely he can go 4 or 5 innings in his first start or at least get there by his second. Thirteen times this year, he has pitched two or more innings. Ross is my pick to take Clayton’s spot – primarily because he wants it so bad!
So, Stripling is my choice with Font a close second to go into the rotation. Here’s what it looks like:
- Wood
- Hill
- Maeda
- Ryu
- Stripling
That will strike fear into hitters, won’t it? Next man up – that’s all you can say! I do not really believe the Dodgers are in on Yu Darvish, no matter what the media says… unless Texas will give him away. I think FAZ is just keeping everyone honest and the price up. Texas is going to want 3 top prospects for him and I say no… unless Clayton is going to be out an extended period. It seems like a 10-day DL trip to me and may be a blessing in disguise. Roberts said there was no shooting pain down his leg, so that bodes well.
Chris Taylor gets all the ink with his .312 BA and .382 OB%, but Logan Forsythe is right behind him with a .368 OB%. No one works the pitchers better than Logan and he is wizard at 2B as we saw yesterday.
Austin Barnes is bad man! This team is deep. Watch and see how they overcome the loss of CK.
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Discussion (110)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Problem is guys, nobody out there really knocks my socks off as a must get starter. Verlander is old, Darvish, who I was hoping for us to get before the season started, is a rental with a history of arm problems, and Sonny Gray is a box of chocolates health wise. I got a sneaky suspicion FAZ is going to go the other way, the way Cleveland and KC did the last few years, and build it up from the back end. Get two more lockdown relievers and maybe a #3 or 4 starter, just to get us to the 6th. The market just doesn’t dictate giving all of our prospects away for a must have starter who isn’t even out there to be had right now. Just alot of lukewarm older guys about 2 or 3 years past their primes. FAZ always pulls something out of their butts that blow us away. I will wait and see what happens. One thing I have learned over the last few years, is Freidman never panics, even when all of us rats have left the ship. Very studious and meticulous guy, do not underestimate this cat.
Roberts says tests show a lower back strain. Scan was much better than last year’s. MJ’s theory is very feasible. Trayce was optioned finally. Long overdue in my opinion and he shouldn’t be back before September. I’d rather see SVS and I’m not dying for that to happen. I think both need consistent AB’s. If Verdugo is untradeable, call him up and give him some PT in LF.
DODGERS ANNOUNCE ROSTER MOVES
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LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers today reinstated left-handed pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu from the 10-day disabled list, selected the contract of left-handed pitcher Edward Paredes (#58) from Triple-A Oklahoma City and recalled right-handed pitcher Josh Ravin from OKC.
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Ryu, who missed 17 games due to a left foot contusion, will make his 14th start of the season tonight against the Twins and last pitched on June 28 against the Angels, allowing two runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings with eight strikeouts. The southpaw has gone 3-6 with one save and has posted a 4.21 ERA (34 ER/72.2 IP), while striking out 69 batters against 22 walks in 14 games (13 starts) this season.
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Paredes, 30, will make his first career appearance on a Major League roster after going a combined 1-2 with one save and posting a 2.23 ERA (10 ER/40.1 IP) in 30 games with Triple-A OKC and Double-A Tulsa. He last pitched on Thursday for the OKC Dodgers, allowing just one hit and recording a strikeout in 1.1 innings of relief. In six games with Oklahoma City, the left-hander has gone 1-0 and has not allowed a run across 8.1 scoreless frames, while striking out 14 against just one walk.
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Paredes, who was selected in the minor league portion of the 2016 Rule 5 Draft by the Dodgers, has posted a 34-37 record with a 4.33 ERA in 283 career games (46 starts) over nine minor league seasons with the Mariners (2006-11), Indians (2013), Angels (2016) and Dodgers (2017) organizations. The Villa Arriva, Dominican Republic, native was signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Seattle Mariners in 2005.
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Ravin, who will make his third stint with the big league club this season, last pitched on Thursday for the OKC Dodgers allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits with four strikeouts in 1.2 innings of relief against Triple-A Memphis (Cardinals). In 24 games with Oklahoma City this season, Ravin has gone 3-0 with two saves while posting a 4.66 ERA (15 ER/29.0 IP). He has struck out 45 batters against 13 walks in 29.0 innings, while holding hitters to a .224 average. The West Hills native made his lone appearance for Los Angeles this season on June 17 at Cincinnati, allowing just one hit and striking out two in 2.0 scoreless innings of relief.
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To make room on the active roster, Los Angeles placed left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw (low back strain) and right-handed pitcher Brandon McCarthy (blister, right third finger; retroactive to July 21) on the 10-day disabled list, and optioned outfielder Trayce Thompson to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
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Kershaw, who made his 21st start of the season yesterday, struck out two against one walk in 2.0 innings before leaving the game with the injury against the Braves. He currently leads the big leagues in wins (15) and ERA (2.04), while ranking among the Major Leagues best in innings pitched (141.1 IP, T-1st), opponents’ batting average (.197, 3rd), strikeouts (168, 3rd) and opponents’ OPS (.572, 3rd).
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McCarthy has gone 6-4 with a 3.84 ERA in 16 starts this season with the Dodgers, while striking out 66 batters against 25 walks. He has allowed an average of just 0.52 home runs per nine innings this season (5 HR/86.2 IP), which is the third lowest mark in the Major Leagues.
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In 19 games with Los Angeles this season, Thompson batted .116 (5-for-43) with two doubles, one triple, one home run and two RBI.
Ravin and Paredes could be back in OKC in a day or three.
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I am all for allowing Walker Buehler to pitch a few good games at AAA, but AAA is not always a good place to pitch. Maybe the Dodgers need to call up Buehler for the bullpen to limit his innings. We could have Stewart, Baez, Morrow, Buehler, Fields, Dayton and Avilan to go along with Jansen in the pen.
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Come the playoffs, I am pretty certain CK will be back and a rotation of Kershaw, Wood , Hill and either McCarthy, Stripling, Maeda or Ryu would be pretty good.
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Do we want to trade away two or three really good prospects for two months of Yu? That sounds like a dope-fiend move.
I just was watching the Verlander game. Overall he went 6ip, 3 runs (although 1 on a wild pitch) 8k. He looked solid.
He still is definitely throwing hard
Here’s what may make the most sense:
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Trade Oaks, Sborz, Farmer and another lower level prospect for Wilson and Verlander. We take all the salary. They take back nothing. Very little lost… only dollars.
Was paredes on the 40 man roster? Did he take Sergio’s spot?
Boxout
Are you watching baseball or girls? just kidding.
Nice AA debut for Santana tonight. The former SS also got a hit.
I don’t know our 2018 payroll situation enough to understand how that would impact a Verlander trade, especially how it relates to how much salary we’d need to take back, IF that impacted the luxury tax we’d be paying.
Does anyone know for sure where we stand, and thus who we could/should acquire?
Puuuuiiiiig!
Based upon what I have heard today, I would bet that Kershaw will be back in 2 to 3 weeks.
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The disk is fine.
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It’s a muscle strain.
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3 weeks max!
He hit that HR on a 0-2 pitch. That’s an awesome job by a rookie.
Let’s get Paredes a W in his debut!
Cody ‘The Kid’ Bellinger just keeps impressing… Now Jansen can get a reprieve…
We are perfect without Kershaw.
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I am telling you: he will be back in 2-3 weeks.
I wish they could have held on to the lead for Ryu. I liked the way he pitched. He got squeezed a couple of times. The only pitch I didn’t like was grooving a 3-2 fastball. I didn’t think he needed to give in when his breaking stuff was sharp.
Ryu was hitting 92 on his fastball and was very good for the first few innings. I think he was fatigued at the end, but it was a very solid start. Something to build on. With Clayton on the DL, they can’t trade any starter.
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Nice win for the 30 year-old rookie!
Bluto,
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Some show dogs are also Junkyard Dogs, like Clayton, Cody, JT and Corey. Joc Pederson is not a JYD, but Dave Roberts is.
It may be asking too much but if Dodgers are able to win 8 of the next ten it’ll match the 42-8 run. I surely wouldn’t wager against them doing such a thing.