Dodgers’ 2015 Season Set Up Nicely For Postseason Success
Zack Greinke is (probably) headed for another Cy Young, narrowly edging out teammate Clayton Kershaw who is equally as deserving, and Chicago Cubs ace Jake Arrieta. Behind Kershaw and Greinke in the rotation (if we really want to call the three-man group they’re going to trot out there a ‘rotation’) are Alex Wood and Brett Anderson.
Behind the starters lies what is probably the best bullpen this team has had in three seasons as well. Now, it’s not necessarily a great bullpen, but it’s definitely better than the dumpster fire they’ve put on display the past two seasons.
Kenley Jansen is on a short list of the game’s best closers, Chris Hatcher has a 1.31 ERA since being reinstated from the disabled list, Luis Avilan is tied for fourth in MLB in strand rate — allowing just nine of 56 inherited runners to score, and J.P. Howell has a 1.43 ERA on the season.
Now, beyond that the options aren’t great, but I believe the Dodgers are hoping with Greinke and Kershaw pitching three or four games of the NLDS,they’ll only need an inning or two each game from these relievers.
Which brings us back to the lineup, a group I’d describe as steady but not sexy.
There isn’t a name that jumps off the page at you (Yasiel Puig being the exception should he make the postseason roster), but it’s a group that as deep one-through-eight (and into the bench) as any other lineup in baseball.
As of now, the eighth-best hitter the Dodgers will have in each game (perhaps better named position player in games when Kershaw and Greinke are batting) is going to be someone along the lines of, Carl Crawford, Justin Turner, Howie Kendrick (or Chase Utley), A.J. Ellis (or Yasmani Grandal) or Kiké Hernandez.
And then consider that as soon as the team needs a pinch-hitter, they may lefty-masher Justin Ruggiano (.301/.371/.578 splits on the season) at their disposal, or veterans like Jimmy Rollins and Utley, as well as righty-masher Joc Pederson (.784 OPS with 20 home runs vs. right-handers this season).
In a postseason in which every situation is magnified and every pinch-hitting opportunity is critical, it’s safe to say the Dodgers are prepared for anything.
Now, again, none of this is to say the Dodgers have already secured a berth in the World Series before even playing a game — or even that they’ll make it out of the first round. I guess what I’m saying is that this team does have what it takes. Despite what some would deem an underwhelming season.
You can complain about manager Don Mattingly or the Dodgers’ refusal to trade for David Price (which was the right decision considering how well Corey Seager is playing), but just remember the goal at the beginning of the season is to be entering the playoffs 162 games later.
And for that, the Dodgers can say, “mission accomplished.” Now, however, is when the real fun (stress) begins.
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