Still the Ace
Since getting off dairy products after last season, Clayton Kershaw has seen no flareup of his back issues and every game he has started he puts up at least 6 innings or more. Simply put, Clayton is still the Dodger s Ace, even if Hyun-jin Ryu wins the Cy Young Award. He is now 11-2 and has a 2.77 ERA to go with a 1.04 WHIP. He s the amazing part: His
Since getting off dairy products after last season, Clayton Kershaw has seen no flareup of his back issues and every game he has started he puts up at least 6 innings… or more. Simply put, Clayton is still the Dodger’s Ace, even if Hyun-jin Ryu wins the Cy Young Award. He is now 11-2 and has a 2.77 ERA to go with a 1.04 WHIP.
He’s the amazing part: His career ERA is 2.41 and his career WHIP is 1.01 – that’s otherworldly after 11 years. Everyone says that Sandy Koufax was better, but he wasn’t better for his career. Koufax was the Greatest of All Time his last 5 years, but his career ERAS is 2.77 and his WHIP is 1.106. Clayton is the greatest Dodger Pitcher of All-Time, OVER HIS CAREER, but if you Cherry Pick 5 seasons, then Sandy is the GOAT.
Of course, Sandy was better in the playoffs, but he only pitched in 8 playoff games, while Clayton has pitched in 30! He still has an opportunity THIS year to change his narrative. Barring injury, the playoffs will start with Clayton on the mound, followed by Ryu and Buehler. The 4th starter is still to be determined.
Playoff Pitchers
It appears it will not be Urias and I endorse his move to the pen. In rare instances, we could see him in back-to-back games. You will have to give him some time to wrap his head around his new role, but he has a couple of months to adapt. They will likely not pitch him on back-to-back days during the season… maybe the playoffs.
Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May both have a shot at the playoff roster. There’s enough time to stretch out Rich Hill, but it will be close. Whether May and/or Gonsolin make the playoff roster is a simple choice: How did they pitch? Chicken Strip is still a possibility as a 4th Starter.
The Dodger pitching is #1 in baseball and the bullpen continues their march up the rankings. The bullpen ERA has now dropped to 3.98 and they are now #7 in bullpen ERA. They just passed Oakland who slipped to the #8 spot.
I have an early flight, so I’ll see you later…
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Discussion (64)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Small sample size but what I’ve seen from Gonsolin and May inspires me with more confidence coming out of the BP than Sadler, Garcia, Chargois or Floro. One or both should be on the post season roster. Joe “Machine Gun” Kelly looks overpowering!
Willie Calhoun went 2-3 today and is now slashing .291/.326/.575/.901 with 9 HRs. He has 28 strikeouts in 141 PA (19.9% K rate).
Last night the Pioneer League All Stars faced off against the Northwest League All Stars, and the Pioneer League came out on top, 11-7. As DC wrote a couple days back, the Ogden Raptors had 6 players make the All Star squad: RHP Kevin Malisheski, Corey Merrill RHRP, Sam McWilliams 2B, Andy Pages OF, Jon Littell OF, Brandon Lewis 3B. Only Malisheski did not get into the game. Andy Pages went 1-2 with a single, Brandon Lewis went 0-2, Sam McWilliams went 1-3 with a 2-run HR, Jon Littell went 1-2 with a 3 run-HR.
Another bottom of 1st lead off HR for Gavin Lux. He now has 10 HRs for OKC. With his 13 at Tulsa, he now has 23 on the year.
So not eating cottage cheese cures old mans back disease? Well hell, why not.
Anyone know what’s going on with Marshall Kasowski? This is the only information I have. “Tulsa Drillers placed RHP Marshall Kasowski on the 7-day injured list retroactive to June 13, 2019.”
I didn’t see the game, timing issues, but Carrottop looks like he pitched well. As long as Hill is out, I’m hoping that both Gonsolin and May continue to make starts and compete for that #4 or #5 position. Can’t hurt.
So far, the LOOGY doesn’t seem to be doing too well. 2 games, 2 blown appearances. He’s not retired anyone. Oh my. OTOH, Kelly slowly mowing them down and reducing his ERA. We are all hoping for a continuation of his dominating pitching.
What is with the negativity against Sadler? He has been nothing short of remarkable. 1.42 ERA!
I see Toles no longer counts against the 40-man. I assume he’s on some sort of restricted list. Can’t the same be done with Alvarez? Is he even with the organization?