Dodgers pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report for spring training on Feb. 15. As we count down to the opening of camp, we’re analyzing the various position groups on the roster. Today, the starting rotation. Previously: outfielders, infielders, catchers.
2022 RECAP
Even with Walker Buehler lost to Tommy John surgery at midseason, the Dodgers’ starting pitchers had the lowest ERA in MLB (2.80) for the second consecutive season and the fourth time in the past six. Following up on his 20-win season in 2021, Julio Urias further emerged as the staff ace and cemented his status as one of the best starters in the National League. Urias finished third in the NL Cy Young voting after leading the league with a 2.16 ERA. But the rotation behind Urias featured a number of surprises. Tony Gonsolin took a major step forward, making the NL All-Star team while going 16-1 with a 2.14 ERA (in fewer innings than Urias) but ending the season with a forearm injury. Signed as depth in the spring, Tyler Anderson had a career year, making his first NL All-Star team while going 15-5 with a 2.57 ERA. Though his season was pockmarked by trips to the injured list, Andrew Heaney was also a successful reclamation project, going 4-4 with a 3.10 ERA when available. Clayton Kershaw remains an elite-level starter. The three-time Cy Young Award winner went 12-3 with a 2.28 ERA in what is now his standard – 22 starts with a trip to the IL when his back acted up.
HOW IT LOOKS RIGHT NOW
Anderson and Heaney parlayed their one-year makeovers with the Dodgers into multi-year deals elsewhere (Anaheim for Anderson, Texas for Heaney). The Dodgers replaced them with another reclamation project, former All-Star Noah Syndergaard. Syndergaard’s career was sidetracked by injuries from 2017 through 2021 but he expects the Dodgers’ pitching brain trust to help him turn back into “the old me.” Kershaw returned on a one-year contract. Gonsolin will have to prove his All-Star season was not a…
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