LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers have posted the lowest MLB in MLB in each of the past four seasons. They haven’t finished outside the top 10 in the category since 2010. But in 2023, with just four games before the All-Star break, the Dodgers rank 23rd. And as the wounds continue to pile up, they could only go down.
While the Dodgers managed to escape with a 6-4 win on Wednesday — thanks in part to a disastrous fifth inning by Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Roansy Contreras — the youthful inconsistencies to be expected from a rotation ravaged by injuries and inexperienced like that of Los Angeles were on full display from the start.
Rookie Bobby Miller made his eighth start of the season, opening the night by knocking out Andrew McCutchen and giving up a home run to Bryan Reynolds in the next at-bat. Miller ultimately put on a decent night and walked away with the win, allowing four runs and striking out seven batters in 5 2/3 innings, but he’s been as volatile as any of the Dodgers’ arms this season.
“I would like to be better,” Miller said after the game, “but I just have to build on that.”
After allowing just two earned runs in his first four starts of the season – and posting a 20-run scoreless streak, the longest of the Dodgers season – the 24-year-old has given up 20 runs in his four outings. since then. As things stand, the Dodgers will need more guys like Miller and fellow rookie Emmet Sheehan.
“Starting to pitch is always helpful,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said when asked about the possibility of adding to the rotation via trade. “Are we looking [around] and hit the tires? Absolutely.”
Last on the Dodgers injured list were Clayton Kershaw and Dustin May. Kershaw, who was in the midst of a vintage and dominant campaign, told reporters on Monday that he should return after the All-Star break, but his extensive injury history makes that timeline unconvincing. May, on the other hand, will miss the rest of the season, which Roberts described as surprising and “a big blow”.
These two join 2023 Los Angeles recovery draft Noah Syndergaard, who has been on the IL since early June but will pitch three innings on Thursday before heading to his rehab assignment. Unlike Kershaw and May, Syndergaard struggled at the start of the 2023 season, posting a 1-4 record with a 7.16 ERA in 12 starts. As a result, his place in the rotation could be up for grabs as he continues to recover.
“The ball is in his court to go out there and play,” Roberts said Wednesday of Syndergaard’s impending return. “The sample we’ve seen so far…it hasn’t been where we need it to be.”
Aside from the aforementioned trio, the Dodgers have also been without 2022 Opening Day starter Walker Buehler, whom Roberts noted the team hopes to return to late in the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in august.
Despite the depleted nature of that group, Roberts insisted after Wednesday’s victory that he was confident in the current rotation. With several questions in the bullpen, the Dodgers will be under immense pressure to keep the team afloat at least until Kershaw returns.
“If you look at the track records of our guys, whenever there’s been a need to fill a void, we’ve done a great job,” Roberts said. “Get these [young] opportunities for guys to learn and improve are good.
Perhaps the positivity comes from the fact that, in his mind, it’s only a matter of time before the entire contingent is healthy again.
“We have an ace,” joked Roberts. “Just not at the moment.”