Even with a brief stretch of being sidelined by a strained groin, Hyun-Jin Ryu has been among baseball’s best starting pitchers this season. His performances helped the Los Angeles Dodgers continue to forge ahead while Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler worked their way into form.
Ryu took the mound Saturday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates leading the Majors in ERA (1.52) and ERA+ (269), while his WHIP (0.74) ranked best in the National League. He additionally was in the midst of a 31-inning scoreless streak.
Ryu was coming off back-to-back outings in which he not only kept the opponent off the scoreboard but flirted with a no-hitter. There would be no such drama at PNC Park, and Ryu additionally saw his scoreless streak snapped at 32 innings.
The oddity of allowing didn’t impact the left-hander beyond simply wanting to avoid allowing a run, via Jake Crouse of MLB.com:
“I wasn’t really thinking about the streak to begin with,” Ryu said through an interpreter. “So when I did give up that run, I wasn’t feeling really anything except for the fact that, as a starting pitcher, your job is to make sure that your team is in a position where it can win.”
Ryu’s scoreless streak was snapped on Russell Martin’s attempt to field a tapper in front of the plate and throw to third base to get Josh Bell, who led off the second inning with a double. Martin’s throw went wide of third base, allowing Bell to score.
Cole Tucker’s RBI single gave the Pirates a 2-1 lead before Ryu could get through the inning. The two runs ultimately were all he allowed despite the Pirates tallying 10 hits in six innings.
Ryu improved to 7-1 while lowering his ERA to 1.65. He also did not hand out any free passes, running his strikeout total to 62 against four walks in 10 starts this season.
Ryu’s performance this season has put him in the early conversation for the NL Cy Young Award and potential All-Star Game bid. Not only does Ryu figure to reach the Midsummer Classic but the 32-year-old may very well start at Progressive Field.
It’s an honor Ryu would appreciate but admitted reaching the All-Star Game has not been on his mind.
