While Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke were the headliners of the Los Angeles Dodgers rotation, Hyun-Jin Ryu was arguably the top No. 3 starter in all of baseball. He finished fourth in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2013.
Through his first two seasons with the Dodgers, Ryu won 14 games each year and went a combined 28-15 with a 3.17 ERA, 2.97 FIP and 1.19 WHIP in 56 starts. The ensuing two seasons spelled a different story for the left-hander.
Ryu missed all of 2015 after undergoing shoulder surgery. His recovery process was longer than initially expected, and Ryu didn’t return until July 2016. He made just one start because of elbow trouble that required surgery.
The 30-year-old has spent this season working to recapture some of his previous form. There were inconsistencies early, though Ryu has fared better of late.
Ryu has been forced to navigate his way through traffic, which Dodgers manager Dave Roberts doesn’t necessarily view as reason for concern, according to Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“He’s always going to give up hits,” Roberts said. “But when he needs to make pitches, he’s always found a way to make pitches and limit damage. I think the WHIP and strikeout vs. walks are all in line with his career. He’s a winning pitcher to me. I feel great when he takes the mound. With what he’s done in the last seven, eight starts, whatever it’s been — he’s done everything we’ve asked of him.”
In his past 12 starts, Ryu is 3-1 with a 2.62 ERA, but yields a 1.32 WHIP and allowed opponents to bat .244/.320/.388 during that span. Overall this season, he’s 5-7 with one save, a 3.46 ERA, 4.49 FIP and 1.33 WHIP.
Ryu pitched well against the Washington Nationals before a two-out walk of Stephen Strasburg in the fifth inning marked the beginning of the end. He then walked Trea Turner, and was replaced by Ross Stripling with two outs.
It was a second time in the past three starts Ryu did not complete at least five innings. In, the previous instance, he was hit by the Arizona Diamondbacks to the tune of six runs on eight hits, including three home runs, in just four innings of work.
Stripling stranded the inherited runners on Sunday, giving Ryu 4.2 scoreless innings with only three hits allowed, two walks and five strikeouts.
As the regular season winds to a close, he figures to receive consideration to make the Dodgers postseason roster. But in what capacity that may be, remains unclear.
