Kenta Maeda is enduring an early sophomore slump.
After a solid rookie season, Maeda entered the year aiming to throw 200 innings. His odds of that milestone may diminish if he’s skipping starts – something Dave Roberts admitted the team is considering.
Dave Roberts suggested Kenta Maeda could be skipped — or something like that — in order to help him get back on track.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) April 23, 2017
Roberts believes Maeda is trying too hard to generate velocity on his fastball. That translates to misplaced location of the pitch.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) April 23, 2017
Maeda, who now owns an 8.05 ERA, could also be bumped to the bullpen, per ESPN. Julio Urias is rumored to return this week, and when Rich Hill gets off the DL, the team would still need to open another slot. Even without Hill’s return, replacing Maeda with Urias could keep Alex Wood in the rotation, and allow Maeda to fill Wood’s bullpen role.
Maeda started quickly last season, but a break from the rotation may be for the best at this time.
“I think the lefties are hitting off me more than the righties, and I think I have to change my plan,” Maeda said through team interpreter Will Ireton. “Since the results aren’t there, maybe I am rushing a little and trying to be more result-oriented rather than process-oriented.”
The Dodgers rotation outside Clayton Kershaw and Brandon McCarthy has been poor thus far. If the team is going to break out of its early slump, it starts with more consistent starters.
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