New York Yankees: Hiroki Kuroda Proves Bombers Have Playoff Pitching

Hiroki Kuroda's dominant performance against the American League West leading Texas Rangers helped the New York Yankees prove they have credible playoff pitching.

Kuroda threw a complete game, two-hit shutout against the Rangers in what might have been his most important start as a Yankee.

The Bombers are sorely missing two incredibly important starters due to injury at this moment: CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte. On top of that, Phil Hughes and Ivan Nova have remained inconsistent throughout the season.

The only real consistent arm in this starting rotation has been Kuroda.

Kuroda is 11-8 with a 3.06 ERA, and that's impressive for multiple reasons.

For starters, Kuroda is coming from one of the weakest offensive divisions in baseball to the strongest and currently has a lower ERA than that of his 2011 ERA with the Los Angeles Dodgers (3.07).

The 37-year-old is also having the majority of his success at Yankee Stadium which is a notorious hitter's park. Kuroda has a 7-4 record in the Bronx, posting an outstanding 2.55 ERA.

Playoff pitching is always a concern for the Yankees and this rotation has been scrutinized like many before it. However, the game Kuroda threw tonight proves the Bombers are very capable in that department after he shut down a World Series contender.

Along with Sabathia (12-3, 3.56 ERA) and Pettitte (3-3, 3.22 ERA), Kuroda gives the Yanks a third solid pitcher to hand the ball to in a playoff series.

If they can get all their pitchers back in time for October, the Yankees have more than a formidable rotation to compete in the postseason with.