Dodgers News: Don Mattingly Compares Brett Anderson To Hyun-Jin Ryu
With many injuries to the Los Angeles Dodgers pitching staff, others have had to step up and perform above what they were largely expected of in order to help keep the team in first place in the National League West.
Although he’s done so relatively quietly, Brett Anderson has turned into the new rock for the Dodgers’ starting rotation. The 27 year old had been plagued by injuries the past few seasons but has found a safe home in Los Angeles.
Anderson’s success led to manager Don Mattingly to recently compare the left-hander to Hyun-Jin Ryu, via Manny Navarro on ESPN:
He’s kind of become what Ryu was for us last year — that third kind of cog in the wheel that is consistently giving you good outings,” Mattingly said. “You’re starting to count on it and feel like he can pitch good against anybody.”
Although Ryu did not have the best ERA, at 3.38 in 2014, he still gave the Dodgers solid outings every appearance and gave the team a chance to win buy often going deep into his starts.
The front office took a leap of faith by signing Anderson and surprisingly, he is one of the few who has managed to stay healthy. In fact, he has started 15 games for the first time since the 2010 season and has turned in one solid outing after another
Although Anderson’s record currently stands at a modest 4-4, it’s largely tied to him, like others on the staff, not getting consistent run support. In all four of Anderson’s losses combined, the Dodgers have scored a total of four runs.
In Anderson’s last two starts, he has allowed just two runs in 13 innings. Anderson tied a career high with 10 strikeouts on Friday against the Miami Marlins, and picked off two batters in seven innings of work. With Ryu out for the remainder of the season, Anderson’s success and consistency figures to play a key role in the Dodgers’ fortunes.
[divide]Hyun-Jin Ryu Reveals He Pitched With Torn Labrum