Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — Continuing our look at the Dodgers at the midway point of the season, we turn our eyes to what in many ways is the most surprising part of the team, the starting pitching. Julio Urias has been solid as usual, but almost every other thing about this rotation is not something that I would have predicted going into the season. Let’s break it down.
1. Clayton Kershaw (71 IP, 7-2, 2.13 ERA)
What can you say about Kershaw that hasn’t already been said. His well-deserved All-Star game start is recognition, not just of his body of work through the years, but of a very, very good first half of 2022. Twice this year, he’s gone seven perfect innings. And, other than a clunker in Coors Field, he’s been money pretty much any time he’s stepped on the mound. Look for Dave Roberts to continue to manage Kershaw’s innings a bit as the team starts to pull away from the pack in the NL West. The key point is to have a full-strength Kershaw in October.
2. Walker Buehler: 65 IP, 6-3, 4.02 ERA
I gotta say, I did not see Walker Buehler’s struggles coming in 2022. That injury must have been bothering him even before he went on the IL. There were a good five or six starts where he just didn’t look right. He was giving up a lot of hard contact, and couldn’t seem to get himself out of situations that he once was able to. His WHIP of 1.29 is a lot more than we’re used to seeing from him, and his ERA in July was a scary 11.37. The good news is that the Dodgers are so deep that they’ve been able to paper over the loss of Buehler so far. Let’s hope he’ll be back in a month or so, so that he can ramp up for a post season run. We’ll see…
3. Julio Urias: 96 IP, 8-6, 2.89 ERA
Julio Urias has been a hard luck pitcher in 2022, losing a lot of low-scoring games due to a lack of run support. But, one could certainly make the argument that he was even more deserving of an All-Star slot than was late add Tyler Anderson. Still, it can’t be underestimated what Urias has meant to this club this season. He’s been the only pitcher that’s been in the rotation for every start this year. I’d like it if Dave Roberts would let him off the leash a little bit, and not take him out of games so quickly, but hopefully that will mean he’ll have plenty in the tank for October.
4. Tony Gonsolin 93 IP, 11-0, 2.02 ERA
Tony Gonsolin has been so good this year that you almost wonder if it is a mirage. Nothing we saw from the Catman in his first couple of years prepared us for the dominance he’s had on display in the first half of this year. His stuff is not overpowering, but somehow nobody can seem to put a bat on it. His getting lit up a little bit against the Cards in his last start was somewhat worrisome. Hopefully, that was an anomaly, and we’ll see good Tony the rest of the way.
5. Tyler Anderson: 97 IP, 10-1, 2.96 ERA
Tyler Anderson has got to be the best off-season addition that the Dodgers made this year (not named Freeman, of course). And again, what a pleasant surprise. From piggybacking with Tony Gonsolin the first couple of starts, to almost pitching a no-hitter, to making his first All-Star game, it’s been quite a ride for TA. But again, I worry that hitters are going to start figuring him out. For now, though, that changeup is working its magic. Whatever else we can get over the next few months, we’ll take it.
Others…
Andrew Heaney, who was supposed to be a back-of-the-rotation guy this season, has only made three starts and pitched just 15 innings. He’s looked good while he’s been out there, but so far, the 2022 season has been a bit of a bust as far as Heaney is concerned. He’s supposed to return soon, but not expecting too much from him this year. In addition to the couple of starts from rookies Michael Grove and Ryan Pepiot, we need to single out Mitch White for some love. He hasn’t pitched great this year, but he’s filled the holes in the rotation that have needed filling, and that in itself is important.
The Dodgers starters head into the All-Star break with a MLB-leading 2.77 ERA, which is the best in baseball by a lot (the Yankees are number two with 3.15). I’d feel a lot better if Buehler were back in this rotation, and I always feel like Clayton is one pitch away from another injury, but you have to hand it to these guys. They are showing up and getting it done in 2022.
DODGERSBEAT GRADE, STARTERS: A-
