Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Kenta Maeda thrived in the postseason out of the bullpen, allowing just one earned run and seven baserunners over 10.2 innings pitched — amounting to a stellar 0.84 ERA and 0.66 WHIP.
Maeda tossed a combined five perfect innings in the National League Division and Championship Series before allowing his lone run — on a Jose Altuve homer — in Game 5 of the World Series.
The 29-year-old saw his fastball velocity increase as a reliever, and his pitches noticeably had more life to them as well. Despite the success, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman views Maeda as a starting pitcher heading into the 2018 season.
“From our standpoint, in the last two years, Kenta has contributed a lot out of the rotation,” Friedman explained. “It’s not that easy to find guys who basically can take the ball every fifth day and contribute the way he has.
“That being said, in the playoffs there was obviously another gear. It was special coming out of the ‘pen, but our thought and mindset going into next season is to view him as a starter who also has the capability to be a well above-average reliever.
“Whether that’s at different points during the year, or hopefully if we’re able to get to the postseason, I don’t know. But we view him as a starting pitcher first and foremost.”
In 25 starts during the regular season, Maeda posted a 4.35 ERA and 1.16 WHIP over 126.1 innings, with 130 strikeouts to 33 walks. He additionally logged eight frames in a relief role, yielding two earned runs with 10 punch outs.
The Dodgers boast the Majors’ best starting pitching depth, with the likes of Scott Kazmir, Maeda, Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin expected to compete for spots to fill out next season’s rotation that already should feature Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill and Alex Wood.
That doesn’t include potential free-agent signings or trades that may occur later this offseason. “I hope we have that headache,” Friedman said, on the Dodgers having a projected surplus of starters.
“Things tend to play out over the offseason and into Spring Training. If we’re fortunate enough to get to Opening Day where that’s the case, we look forward to having that conversation. Because much more often than not, you’re trying to figure out how to round out your rotation.”
