For the second straight year, starting pitching will be the story of the playoff push for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Quite obviously, the Dodgers have the star power to make a deep playoff run. But even if Shohei Ohtani joins the rotation on a full-time basis by the end of the season, they'll still be one arm short if their injured list remains the same size.
Fortunately, the Dodgers proved last year that they'll go after the big fish on the starting pitching market.
They got Jack Flaherty then, but this year, an even bigger prize could be theirs for the taking.
On Friday, Nick Selbe of Sports Illustrated predicted that the Dodgers would acquire Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara, who has had a dreadful season on the whole, but has looked more like his old self in June.
"The 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner has been on a winding path to rediscover his form after making his return from Tommy John surgery. Through the first two months of the season, that form seemed a long way off. Alcantara went 2–7 with an 8.47 ERA through his first 11 starts," Selbe wrote.
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"Since the start of June, the results have been much better: a 2.74 ERA and 3.20 FIP in four outings, with a meager 5.3% walk rate. If he can keep that up, interest should be high in the 29-year-old, who has a club option to keep him under contract through 2027. Prediction: Traded to Dodgers."
Alcantara, 29, is under contract for two more years, including a club option for $21 million in 2027. He'd be an absolute bargain at that price if he stays healthy and keeps pitching like he has this month.
The stuff is still there for Alcantara. It's the control that's been an issue, and that already seems to be improving. If the Dodgers can pony up the prospect capital to grab him, they'll probably be happy they did.
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