Los Angeles Dodgers: Why the Dodgers will win the 2019 World Series
By Jason Reed
1. The Los Angeles Dodgers starting rotation will be great
The Los Angeles Dodgers are going to have an insane starting rotation next season that is going to be similar to the postseason rotation in 2017, with some minor changes.
Leading the way for the Dodgers is going to be Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler, you could argue either way who really deserves the title of the ace. Just for longevity’s sake, we will say Kershaw.
I also think we are going to see a career resurgence year out of Kershaw that puts him back into Cy Young contention. Kershaw definitely was not bad last season but his declining fastball velocity and overall health have convinced a lot of people that he is on the decline. However, he still is only 30 years old.
Buehler is going to be great as long as the team monitors his innings. With a year of experience, including a World Series gem, under his belt, Buehler will be even better.
Rich Hill will likely be the third guy and when he is on he is one of the hardest pitchers to hit in the National League. Leaving him in Game 4 of the World Series could have created a completely different tone in this article.
This is where it gets fun. Behind Hill, I think, the Dodgers should go with Julio Urias. Urias looked great in the postseason and with another offseason of rest should be at full strength. Urias is still one of the best young arms in baseball and has a higher ceiling than Walker Buehler.
The trio of Kershaw, Buehler and Urias has the potential to be the best three-man combination we have seen in quite some time. With the reliable Hill tossed in and an assortment of arms that can fill out a five, even six, man rotation, the Dodgers are going to dominant the rubber.