Los Angeles Dodgers: Five bold predictions for the starting rotation in 2020

2. Walker Buehler is a Cy Young finalist

When it comes to the future of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ starting rotation you cannot look past flamethrowing right-hander Walker Buehler. In what will be his third full season in the league, Buehler is ready to take over the reins as the ace of the Los Angeles Dodgers from Clayton Kershaw and will have his first truly elite season as a result.

Buehler has pitched far better than we should expect out of a 25-year-old. Beuhler finished last season with a 3.26 ERA and most importantly gave a full season of workload, throwing 182 and one-third innings in 30 starts.

That ERA was good enough for ninth and it earned Buehler an all-star nod as well as some Cy Young votes, as he finished ninth in the voting. This year, Buehler will not only get Cy Young votes, but will finish as a finalist.

Buehler has elite stuff and his 3.26 ERA is even a bit misleading. We have all seen how dominant Buehler is when he has his stuff going and the only reason why his ERA was as high as it was is due to Buehler having the occasional “blowup start”, which is typical of a young pitcher.

Buehler had a 1.94 ERA in games he won last season and a 5.91 ERA in games that he lost. We will start to see fewer of those blowup games and his ERA will creep down to the 2.50 range.

If Buehler stays healthy and pitches 200 innings, he very well could finish with an ERA around 2.50 with 250 strikeouts.