Editorials

Five Wild Cards Who Could Determine The Dodgers season

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

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2. Brett Anderson



The Dodgers took a risk plugging Brandon McCarthy and Anderson into the fourth and fifth slots in their rotation, despite injury histories keeping actuaries up at night. Long term, the greater gamble is with McCarthy since his contract is longer and more expensive.

For 2015, Anderson is the wilder Wild Card. For starters (see what I did there?), his injury history gives McCarthy by comparison a Mark Buehrle-esque air of dependability. Much has been made of the fact that over nine years in the bigs McCarthy only has one 200-inning season (2014), and in the two seasons prior to last threw 135 and 111, respectively.

Well, over the last three seasons combined, Anderson has 123. Where McCarthy is at least a reasonable bet to make 18 starts. Anderson can’t be counted on to reach double digits. But anything he does deliver is almost sure to be well above the typical output of a fifth starter.

It wouldn’t surprise anyone to see him post a mid-3’s ERA with solid peripherals, particularly if the defense behind him is as advertised. Should he reach 15-20 starts, that’s a significant productivity advantage over just about every other end-of-the-rotation guy not playing in Washington.

Forget the playoffs, because assuming the Dodgers get there Anderson probably won’t pitch. But if he’s healthy for a big chunk of the season and pitches to his ability, the path to reach the postseason gets a lot easier.

CONTINUE READING: Final Wild Card

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5 Comments

  1. Great list! So much hinges on the success of bullpen this year — that could be a wild card story all on its own.

  2. I agree great list. I am very impressed with some of the BP guys in Spring such as Santos and Tsao. As the catchers together batted about .188 any improvement will help make up the difference between the offense of Kemp, Ramirez and speed of Gordon. I think Kendrick is a huge offensive upgrade. Especially in tight games as he is a tough grind it out line drive hitter. Rollins knows how to work counts and if you watch Pederson he tends to work counts and get on base. So I think with the huge improvement of the defense, much better BP and smarter grind it out hitters we will have a dynamic club this year. This really matters against good clubs and in the playoffs.

    1. You asked about Kemp in Petco…he actually hits great there…Has well over a .300 average there……somebody said to me, well that is against Padre pitching, which really is not that bad…and besides now he hits against all teams there…..he kills Rockies pitchers too. the only question is how will he do vs the Blue..

  3. Kinda scary when two out of five starters are considered “wild cards.” Plus the guy you trade Matt Kemp for? Hmmm…..

  4. We will see during the Season but Grandal has very poor mechanics. He does not catch low balls to his left well and his throws to second are erratic. So he can frame the pitches he can catch but that critical breaking ball in the dirt for a strike? He cannot catch or knock it down. He does hit some line drives but they seem to be at people. So far not impressed.
    Pederson looks good enough and he his very good defensively and has a better arm than I thought. Love Kendrick. McCarthy and Anderson look very solid now if they can just stay healthy….

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