The Los Angeles Dodgers have over $70 million tied up in their starting pitchers that cannot even pitch due to injury.
The list was half that or about $36 million until the Dodgers announced that star pitcher Clayton Kershaw was being added on Thursday to the disabled list.
Prior to Kershaw getting hurt, the Dodgers rotation did not have anyone behind him, now the rotation does not have anyone period.
On Thursday, the Dodgers did receive a strong start from pitcher Kenta Maeda who helped the Dodgers to an 8-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. The Dodgers are now 44-37. If the season ended today, Los Angeles would be one of the National League’s wildcard entries.
On Thursday, the Dodgers acquired Bud Norris a right-hander, who is 31, from the Atlanta Braves and Norris will start on Friday.
Norris was in and out of the Braves rotation this season. During his five starts in June, Norris had an ERA of 2.15 earning wins over the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs. However, in April Norris’ ERA was 8.74 in five starts.
The remainder of the starting rotation for the Dodgers includes teen Julio Urias, Brock Stewart and Scott Kazmir.
The rotation is that for now, due to both Hyun-Jin Ryu and Brandon McCarthy currently pitching rehab assignments after coming off shoulder and Tommy John surgery respectively.
Even though neither of the two is Kershaw material, each has experience in the big leagues and some success.
With the inclusion of Norris, the Dodgers now have had 10 pitchers start this season with only the Oakland A’s and Cincinnati Reds using more. Four of the 10 Dodgers pitchers who have started a game made their debut in the majors this season.
It is no surprise therefore that when Kershaw starts, the Dodgers are 14-2, and when anyone else starts, the team is 30-35.
Kershaw’s injury has come as a shock, as the left-hander has been durable during the past seven seasons prior to this year. During that run, he has averaged 32 starts per season and 215 innings pitched.
This season he is leading the majors in innings pitched with 121, but started to complain of back discomfort on Monday and was diagnosed after flying home Wednesday with a slight herniated disc in the lower back.
Now it is a wait and see period for both Kershaw’s return and how the rest of the starting rotation responds to his absence.
