Dodgers: How the World Series bound Dodgers were built

Starting rotation:

Clayton Kershaw:

Clayton Kershaw is the pride of the Dodgers’ pitching staff and stands as the best pitcher on planet Earth. Luckily for Dodger fans, Kershaw has been a career Dodger and likely will remain that way. Los Angeles selected the left-handed phenom with the seventh overall pick in the 2006 draft. If you are the Royals, who picked Luke Hochevar with the first overall pick, you are kicking yourself.

Rich Hill:

Rich Hill absolutely epitomizes what it is to be a journeyman in Major League Baseball. Hill has been a part of eight different MLB franchises and even played independent league baseball as recently as 2015. The Dodgers acquired Hill in a trade including Josh Reddick for Grant Holmes, Frankie Montas and Jharel Cotton before the 2016 MLB trade deadline.

Now, Hill is one of the Dodgers most consistent pitchers. After battling blisters the last two seasons, Hill has turned into a reliable source of awe-inspiring curveballs and a unique pitching delivery in the MLB.

Yu Darvish: 

Yu Darvish is the newest member of a dominant Dodgers staff and has been the best this postseason. Darvish has a 2-0 record with a 1.59 ERA in 11.1 innings pitched. Of course, Darvish was the Dodgers big trade deadline acquisition. Los Angeles sent the Texas Rangers a package of Willie Calhoun, Brendon Davis and A.J. Alexy.

Alex Wood:

Alex Wood is one of many genius acquisitions by the Los Angeles Dodgers front office. Wood was already a decent young talent but was not looked at as a rising star. This season, Wood made the all-star team with a 2.72 ERA and a 16-3 record.

Los Angeles acquired Wood in a three-team deal with the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins before the 2015 MLB Trade Deadline. Other big pieces the Dodgers brought in included Mat Latos, Jose Peraza, Jim Jonhson and a current Dodgers’ bullpen arm. The biggest pieces sent in the deal were Hector Olivera, Paco Rodriguez and Zachary Bird.