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Los Angeles Dodgers: Predicting season stats for the starting rotation

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 27: (L-R) Chris Taylor #3, Rich Hill #44, Clayton Kershaw #22, Ross Stripling, Walker Buehler #21 and their Los Angeles Dodgers teammates look on from the dugout in the ninth inning of Game Four of the 2018 World Series against the Boston Red Sox at Dodger Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. The Red Sox defeated the Dodgers 9-6. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 27: (L-R) Chris Taylor #3, Rich Hill #44, Clayton Kershaw #22, Ross Stripling, Walker Buehler #21 and their Los Angeles Dodgers teammates look on from the dugout in the ninth inning of Game Four of the 2018 World Series against the Boston Red Sox at Dodger Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. The Red Sox defeated the Dodgers 9-6. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Dodgers
(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Dodgers /

1. Clayton Kershaw

  • 21-5, 215 IP, 2.09 ERA, 210 strikeouts

Again, we might be a little optimistic when it comes to health but we have been pretty fair with the rest of the innings pitched for the Dodgers. Maeda does not have a ton, Hill is right on pace with his last two seasons and Buehler is three to four starts short of hitting 200 innings pitched.

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To predict just one pitcher to hit the 200 innings plateau is fair and it is going to be none other than the ace himself, Clayton Kershaw. I know a lot of fans are trying not to get their hopes up with Kershaw but this really feels like a bounce-back year waiting to happen.

As of know, Kershaw appears to be completely healthy and had an entire offseason to build his strength back up and at least get that fastball velocity up. He might not be back to pumping 96-97 but Kershaw should be able to sit at 93-94.

The only thing that has held Kershaw back the last few years is his health. If we are assuming that he is going to be healthy then it would be extremely unfair to assume that he will regress. He is only 30 years old and is realistically in his prime, at least athletically.

It might not be record-setting numbers that Kershaw put together earlier in his career but it is an elite season out of Kershaw that will win him the National League Cy Young. 

We are assuming Kershaw makes 31 starts in 2019, which puts his average innings pitched per game right under seven, which is fair. A 2.09 ERA over 215 innings is 50 earned runs allowed.

Next. The overlooked impact of Russell Martin. dark

His strikeouts won’t be as high as years’ past but he will still strike out more batters than innings pitched and is going to head into the postseason with a full head of steam and confidence after a great season.

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