Editorials

2018 Dodgers Player Reviews: Zac Rosscup

How He Got Here

Zac Rosscup was acquired by Los Angeles from the Rockies on waivers on July 11. He quickly became their go-to LOOGY.



Regular Season Recap

Rosscup’s regular season looked terrible from a statistical standpoint, yet wasn’t without value. He didn’t allow a run in 14 of the 17 games he pitched, and overwhelmingly succeeded in his capacity of getting one left-handed batter out.

However, when he was touched up, it was downright brutal. He allowed three earned runs in the dismal 14-0 blowout loss to Houston on August 4. The worst came six days later against his former team in Colorado. With Kenley Jansen suddenly on the DL due to an irregular heartbeat, the bullpen’s late-inning plans were thrown into chaos.

Rosscup came on in the bottom of the sixth of the second game of the series. He worked into the seventh with a 4-3 lead at stake, but surrendered a two-run homer to Ryan McMahon that held for a 5-4 Rockies win. The loss was the second of a four-game sweep at the hands of Colorado, which at the time seemed to cast both the bullpen and the entire season into doubt.

These untimely meltdowns contributed to a 4.76 ERA for Rosscup by season’s end, even though he didn’t allow an earned run in 10 of his 11 final games. He even threw an immaculate inning against the Mariners. 

How’d He Do in October?

After a mediocre regular season and injuries, Rosscup was predictably excluded from the playoff roster every series.

What Lies Ahead

Rosscup was released by the team in November, and is currently a free agent. Any team that opts to sign him will not only have a decent lefty one-out option in their pen, but also a player with an uncanny resemblance to Ted Feldman, the former guitarist for Bear Hands.

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