This might be the first time since 2010 that the Los Angeles Dodgers have struggled on the mound.
The Dodgers had a team ERA of 4.04 that year, 14th out of 30 teams. Since then, they have never finished lower than sixth in team ERA. From 2019 to last year, they were first for four straight years. Most notably, last season’s 2.80 was the lowest in 50 years since 1972 (2.78)토스카지노.
This year, however, the Dodgers are struggling on the mound, both starting and bullpen. As of June 26, the team ERA is 4.52, which ranks 24th. Their starting ERA is 16th at 4.39 and their bullpen ERA is 26th at 4.68. The Dodgers team ERA is the “worst” since the team moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles in 1958.
The reason for this is simple. They didn’t properly reinforce their mound last winter, and they were riddled with injuries.
However, despite the mound woes, the Dodgers are still in the postseason hunt with a 43-34 record as of today. They are third in the NL West and third in the wild card. They’re also just three games back of the division-leading Arizona Diamondbacks. Fangraphs gives the Dodgers an 89.1 percent chance of making the playoffs. Barring an upset, fall baseball is here to stay.
The driving force is Clayton Kershaw. The so-called “Kershaw era” is still in effect in 2023.
In an article titled “Clayton Kershaw still holding the Dodgers together,” ESPN highlighted Kershaw’s performance and iconic status this season.
ESPN wrote, “The Dodgers have led the league in team ERA for the past four years. But their team ERA is the worst since they moved to Los Angeles,” and “their bullpen ERA is the worst outside of four teams, and their starting rotation is missing Walker Buehler, Jurio Urias, Dustin May, and Noah Syndergaard, who has a 7.16 ERA and has been injured.
This emphasizes how Kershaw’s performance and leadership has kept the Dodgers at the top of the standings even when the mound is at its worst.
First baseman Freddie Freeman told ESPN, “He does it every year like he did this year. When we really needed him, he stepped up. It’s been 15 years since his debut in 2008, and he’s still doing it when we need him.”
“Kershaw is the only one of our starters who has been in the rotation since Opening Day,” said manager Dave Roberts. “He’s obviously realized that, but accepting responsibility but not putting pressure on yourself is a skill that he’s learned and developed. He’s always done it that way, and I can’t imagine the Dodgers without him.”
The Dodgers’ opening rotation this year was Urias, May, Kershaw, Syndergaard, and Michael Grove. Of those, Urias, May, and Syndergaard were lost to injury, and Grove was relegated to the bullpen after being declared unfit to start. That leaves Kershaw.
There’s one pitcher I’m not happy about. Trevor Bauer was released from the major leagues after an “accident” and moved to Japan. Bauer signed with the Yokohama DeNA Basestars for $4 million earlier this year to begin his new life in NPB.
After some early struggles, Bauer has settled into his new league with five consecutive quality starts. On May 16 against Hiroshima, Bauer gave up seven runs on eight hits in two innings before returning to the second team on May 27 and earning a quality start against Chunichi with six innings of seven hits and two runs.
On May 14, he threw his first complete game in the NPB with nine innings of three hits and one run against Nippon Ham, and on May 25, he pitched his sixth QS of the season with 6⅓ innings of seven hits and three runs against Hanshin, extending his winning streak to four games. His ERA has stabilized at 4.03. Bauer’s fastball, which he has said he wants to get up to 96 mph, is reminiscent of his prime in terms of velocity and command.
However, Bauer is still being paid the remainder of his contract by the Dodgers organization. Bauer, who signed a three-year, $120 million free agent contract with the Dodgers in February 2021, is guaranteed through this year. Of his $35.33 million salary this year, $22.53 million will go directly to his pocketbook, minus any MLB suspensions. The Dodgers had no choice but to release Bauer at a cost of an astronomical amount of money.
The 2020 NL Cy Young Award winner had pitched 17 games for the Dodgers in 2021, going 8-5 with a 2.59 ERA. If Bauer hadn’t had his “accident,” he could be on the mound with Kershaw right now.