FanPost

What the Dodgers need to do for the pitching staff to succeed starting and relieving

The Dodgers have the deepest pitching in the majors, but the bullpen has been inconsistent. They need to sort something out, so here it goes.

  • Move Kenta Maeda to the bullpen full-time, put Ross Stripling back into a starting role
I get it, Kenta's contract is built around starts. But we need a ring, and it's time to get serious. Kenta has not been good this season, and he collapsed late last year. It's best for him to be in the pen where his velocity is 93-95 rather than the rotation where it's 90-92. He's better there, and the rotation doesn't need him as much as the bullpen.

Ross has been nothing short of great in his rotation time, and he's earned it more than Maeda has. That's pretty much indisputable.
  • Don't lean on Kenley too much, and make him use the slider more
I still think Kenley Jansen is a top-5 reliever in baseball. But the Dodgers expect too much of him. His ERA+ is right where it was in 2015, and his velocity is still above-average for a cut fastball. His slider has always been like Maeda's curve, throw it to mess with timing. He needs to turn it into a true secondary pitch.
  • DFA Joe Kelly
He wasted our cash, guys.
  • Put more trust in Baez as our setup man.
He's earned it. Nobody can argue against it, but we don't just need him to help set up. He needs to be the go-to guy.

This is a fan-written post that is in no way affiliated with or related to any of the authors or editors of True Blue LA. The opinions reflected in this post do not necessarily reflect those of True Blue LA, its authors or editors.