Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitchers have combined to enter play Saturday leading the Majors with a 3.46 ERA. That’s in spite of Rich Hill not yet finding any sort of consistency, and Kenta Maeda and Hyun-Jin Ryu going through stretches of poor starts.
Clayton Kershaw continues to lead the rotation, with aid from Brandon McCarthy and Alex Wood. McCarthy and Wood have both spent time on the disabled list this season, with Wood set to return Saturday from inflammation in his left SC joint.
While the Dodgers have an excess of starting pitchers, and a staff that sports an MLB-best 3.14 ERA, the expectation is Los Angeles will look to acquire pitching at the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, some believe that will entail pursuing the likes of Chris Archer and other top starting pitchers:
But most talent evaluators think they’ll make a play for the top available starter, whether it be Ervin Santana, Hellickson, Archer, or someone else.
Los Angeles was linked to Archer and Chris Sale in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline last season. But rather than gut their farm system, the Dodgers found a more suitable option in Hill, who was acquired in a trade that also included Josh Reddick.
Whether the Dodgers will part with the top-tier prospects that presumably would need to be included for a premier starting pitcher is unlikely.
