2015 Dodgers review: Scott Baker

Scott Baker was one of 16 pitchers to start a game for the Dodgers in 2015, second-most in franchise history, and one of 11 to start at least two games.

What went right

Baker signed a minor league deal with the Yankees, including a non-roster invitation to spring training, but when he didn't make the team opted out of his contract and became a free agent at the end of spring training. He signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers on April 8, and one day later the former Oklahoma State pitcher started on opening day for Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Baker was especially stingy in his first three starts with OKC, allowing two runs and just one walk in 17 innings, with 16 strikeouts, and that earned him a call-up on April 26, the third pitcher in a line of several from Triple-A as the Dodgers tried to stabilize their rotation after losing Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-jin Ryu both early in the season.

In his first start for the Dodgers, Baker took the loss but he actually pitched well, lasting seven innings and striking out six while allowing three runs, but got minimal run support in a 3-1 loss in San Diego.

What went wrong

The one downside to that first start for Baker was two home runs allowed, something he did again in his second start as well, on May 2 at home against the Diamondbacks. Only this time he lasted just four innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, and by the end of the day was designated for assignment, off the 40-man roster.

Baker's home run rate of 8.9 percent (four home runs allowed to 45 batters faced) was third-worst on the Dodgers, behind only Eric Surkamp and McCarthy.

Baker stuck around though, continuing to pitch for Oklahoma City, going 7-3 with a 3.39 ERA in 13 starts on the season in Triple-A, with 51 strikeouts and just seven walks in 77 innings.

The right-hander missed 10 games on the disabled list in Triple-A with a bad back in June, then suffered a groin injury that wiped out his final two months of the season.

2015 particulars

Age: 33

Stats: 5.73 ERA, 7.22 FIP in 2 starts, 11 IP, 8 K, 3 BB, 4 HR, -0.1 rWAR, -0.2 fWAR

Salary: unknown

Game of the year

Baker only started twice for the Dodgers, and even though he lost the game he pitched well on Apr. 26 in San Diego, allowing three runs in seven innings.

Roster status

Baker became a free agent in October.