Anderson Packed

 

A rotation led by Clayton Kershaw, Julio Urias and Walker Buehler and the guys making the most of things in LA are Tony Gonsolin and Tyler Anderson. The Dodgers: they can beat you up, down and sideways, but never in the way that you think.

I've talked at length about Tony Gonsolin, who's now even more insane with his 10-0 record and 1.54 ERA, but Tyler Anderson is having an equally excellent season. Anderson's 9-1, which isn't too shabby either, a 3.09 ERA and 75 Ks. He used to be a lot showier and K-friendly, but now he's just really efficient and really consistent. I can't believe it was that low-key 2020 in San Francisco that got him on the right track, and he's been stellar everywhere he's pitched from then on. He even came off well in Pittsburgh, a tactic Jose Quintana is learning this year. Anderson came on as a low-rotation guy, a lot like Gonsolin, and he's been more impressive even than some of the big guns in the rotation this year.

Not that Kershaw and Urias are doing badly, they're just having less-showy seasons than usual. Kershaw's doing his usual thing, 2.57 ERA, I just don't think he's ever gonna pitch a full season ever again and we have to be okay with that. Urias also has a 2.57 ERA, but his record is a little more even than last year. It doesn't mean he's doing badly, he's just a little unluckier. I still think he's on the right track, and that he's got like 10 or so excellent years left in him [that's why you get the nerves out of your system by coming up young]. And then Mitch White has been pretty awesome in his last few starts, taking a no-no late the other day. Yes, we're waiting for someone like Buehler or Heaney to come back, and we're still entertaining the possibility of Danny Duffy eventually pitching again [maybe?], but this has been a solid pack, and they've been having good luck lately.

The Dodgers themselves are still in control of the division, they have Mookie Betts back in good condition, and their bench is now versatile enough to hand in solid seasons from people like Trayce Thompson and Jake Lamb. It's not an indestructible team, and they have moments where I feel the Padres could catch them, but they're more dominant than last year, and have more postseason promise as well. If the rotation stays this good, they'll be alright.

Coming Tonight: The Phillies are gonna be regretting trading this guy for the rest of his career.