The Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitching rotation of Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Ricky Nolasco and Ryu Hyun-jin may form the best rotation among playoff-bound teams in Major League Baseball, a baseball editor for a U.S. sports network said Wednesday.
“You have two lefties, two righties, and four guys throw strikes and limit home runs. It’s clearly the best foursome going right now,” wrote David Schoenfield of ESPN.com.
While the Dodgers dominance starts from their ace pitcher Kershaw, ESPN’s Schoenfield said it is his supporting cast that gives Los Angeles rotations a top-notch reputation.
Greinke, who rocked the Hot Stove League last year before signing with the Dodgers for whopping six-year $147 million deal, has proved that he was worth the investment by logging 14-3 with a 2.79 ERA -- the second lowest in his career.
The mid-season addition of Nolasco turned out to be a successful one as well, as the pitcher recorded 8-1 on a 2.07 ERA in the Dodgers’ uniform. His numbers are significantly up from his Miami days, when he went 5-8 with a 3.85 ERA.
South Korean rookie sensation Ryu caps off the fantastic four. The 26-year-old lefty out of the little-known Korean league has played a considerable role in the Dodgers’ surge in the standings. Ryu is now 13-6 on a respectable 3.07 ERA, and is considered among the top first-year players in the league.
The Dodgers are at the top of the standings in the National League West at 85-60, and are poised to clinch their first division title since 2009. They now sit on a comfortable 12-game lead over the runner-up Arizona Diamondbacks.
