2011 Los Angeles Dodgers: Most Underrated Rotation in Baseball

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DENVER - SEPTEMBER 27: The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate their victory over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 25, 2010 in Denver, Colorado.The Dodgers defeated the Rockies 3-1. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Let the record show, I am not a Dodgesr fan. In fact, I wouldn't hesitate to say I don't see any of the NL West teams being relevant in the playoffs. That being said, everyone raves about the Giants rotation, and it is awesome, but I had a "that can't be right" moment when I was researching the Dodgers rotation.

It is time people took notice of the most deceptive rotation in baseball.

No. 1 Clayton Kershaw

PHOENIX - SEPTEMBER 24: Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the Major League Baseball game at Chase Field on September 24, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

1. Clayton Kershaw, 22 years old, 2010: 2.91 ERA, 1.179 WHIP, 9.3 K/9, 2.62 K/BB

This kid is 22 and still has growing to do, but to get over 200 K's and a sub-3.00 ERA from him already means he should be an ace for the next decade. At 22 years old, Tim Lincecum had not yet reached Double-A ball.

Meanwhile, "The Claw" has three seasons under his belt, 83 starts, 483 innings, 497 strikeouts, a 3.17 ERA and a 1.267 WHIP. His K/BB ratio has gone up every year. If he keeps it down, we are talking about one of the top 10 pitchers in baseball for the next 10 years.

No. 2 Chad Billingsley

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 03: Chad Billingsley #58 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch against the San Francisco Giants on September 3, 2010 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

2. Chad Billingsley, 26, 2010: 3.57 ERA, 1.278 WHIP, 8.0 K/9, 2.48 K/BB

He has been notoriously erratic, but at 26, Billingsley has already been an All-Star once and has a 200 strikeout season. Here is a second young ace for the Dodgers' future. Sure, Billingsley is still prone to off days, but he is still learning, and improving.

No. 3 Ted Lilly

DENVER - SEPTEMBER 27: Starting pitcher Ted Lilly #29 of the Los Angeles Dodgers delivers against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 25, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. Lilly earned the win as the Dodgers defeated the Rockies 3-1. (Photo by Doug

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

3. Ted Lilly, 35, 2010: 3.62 ERA, 1.079 WHIP, 7.77 K/9, 3.77 K/BB

He isn't sexy, but he gets the job done every week. Lilly is the perfect No. 3 guy. He might never strike out 10 in a game, or pitch any complete ones, but he will give you quality start after quality start.

In 76.2 innings pitched for the Dodgers last year, Lilly was 7-4 with an incredible .991 WHIP and 5.13 K/BB.

Lilly has made 25+ starts every year since 2003, so he can be relied on to provide plenty of innings and he has won 10+ in each of those years, which is especially impressive considering he was pitching for the A's, Blue Jays and Cubs in that span.

No. 4 Hiroki Kuroda

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Hiroki Kuroda #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on September 17, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)

Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images

4. Hiroki Kuroda, 36, 2010: 3.39 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 7.29 K/9, 3.31 K/BB

Kuroda is entering his third year in Major League Baseball. In 83 games, he has 3.60 ERA and 1.177 WHIP.

Kuroda, like Lilly, isn't exciting. You don't buy a ticket for a specific game to see him pitch, but you turn around every five days and see Kuroda threw another 6-7 innings and the Dodgers had a chance to win at the end.

What else can you ask from your No. 4?

No. 5 Jon Garland

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 14: Jon Garland #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Dodger Stadium on September 14, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

5. Jon Garland, 31, 2010: 3.47 ERA, 1.315 WHIP, 6.1 K/9, 1.56 K/BB

Look at those numbers again to fully appreciate them. Remember, Tim Lincecum had a 3.43 ERA last year. Yes, it was the lowest ERA of his career, and second lowest WHIP, but he has also won 10+ games every year since 2002, including back-to-back 18 win campaigns with the Chicago White Sox.

For a No. 5 to have an ERA under 3.50, you know you're doing well. Garland is also an inning-eater, with over 195 innings every year since 2004, and over 200 innings all but one of those seasons.

In Review

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 20: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers receives a visit to the mound from pitching coach Rick Honeycutt #40 and teammates against the San Diego Padres during the fifth inning at Dodger Stadium on May 20, 2010 in Los Ange

Harry How/Getty Images

All five Dodgers starters were in the top 40 of all SP last year in ERA. Three were in the top 25 in WHIP.

No, its not fair to compare them to the San Francisco Giants rotation, and yet, Tim Lincecum would have had the third best ERA, and fourth best WHIP out of this group. Jonathan Sanchez would have had the fourth best WHIP, and the second worst strikeout-to-walk ratio. Barry Zito would have had BY FAR the worst ERA and WHIP.

No, I don't expect the Dodgers rotation to be as good as their counterparts, but with Rafael Furcal leading off for the likes of Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, and James Loney, and with Hong-Chi Kuo, Jansen and Jonathan Broxton at the back end, they don't have to be.

If I had to pick right now, I'd take the Rockies to win the West, but make no mistake, it is absolutely a three-team race.

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