With their season still hanging in the balance, the Los Angeles Dodgers aligned their starting rotation so that Hyun-Jin Ryu, Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler were the probables for the weekend series with the San Francisco Giants.
Manager Dave Roberts made a habit of tinkering with his rotation over the past month to ensure his top starters would get to pitch in key series. That Ryu factored into that is not something many would have predicted heading into the season.
Shoulder surgery cost him all of 2015 and multiple injuries limited Ryu to all of one start in 2016. As one might suspect, he endured plenty of ups and downs last year.
Other than a severe groin injury that kept him on the disabled list for more than three months, Ryu has been stellar in 2018. He answered the bell again for the Dodgers on Friday night, holding the Giants to just one run in six innings.
Despite the strong performance, Ryu was lifted at 85 pitches. He admitted that was somewhat surprising but also expressed an understanding of Roberts’ decision, as seen on SportsNet LA:
“I jokingly told Doc that I could lead off, but knowing the situation and how Doc wanted to put in a pinch-hitter there, I had to come out of the game. I was quite surprised but at the end of the day it’s all for the team and I knew what was behind that change so I’m fine with it.”
Roberts explained he was looking for more offense in the seventh, when Ryu’s spot led off the inning, and that he felt confident in the forthcoming matchups with his relievers. Scott Alexander issued a leadoff walk but was backed by Pedro Baez and Alex Wood striking out three batters to end the seventh inning.
Kenta Maeda erased a one-out single with a double play in the eighth, and Kenley Jansen induced the Dodgers’ fifth double play of the game in the ninth inning after hitting Brandon Crawford with one out.
As for Ryu, he finished the season 7-3 with a 1.97 ERA in 15 starts. Should the Dodgers reach the postseason and need a fourth starter, Ryu is confident he will be afforded an opportunity to pitch based on results.
