2014 vs 1988

The good news is the 2014 team is similar to the 1988 team in that is has a strong rotation top to bottom. Ace Clayten Kershaw certainly hopes to replicate Orel Hershiser's 1988 season, one of the greatest seasons of all time.

Using the 2013 statistics for the current Dodgers, let's see how the current Dodger pitching staff compares to the 1988 squad.

Let's start with starters two through four. Following Hershiser in the rotation were Tim Belcher, Tim Leary, and Fernando Valenzuela. John Tudor came in late when the Dodgers sent Pedro Guererro to the Cardinals, but we will use Fernando as the fourth starter since he started more games. Following Kershaw, the Dodgers have Zach Greinke, Hyun Jin Ryu, and Dan Harren. It could be argued that Josh Beckett is the fifth starter, but that could change with the acquisition of Masahiro Tanaka or the resurgence of Chad Billingsly so lets not count the fifth starter position.

1988 Starter #2 Tim Leary

Wins: 17

Losses: 11

ERA: 2.91

Strikeouts: 180

Innings Pitched: 228

2014 Starter #2 Zach Greinke

Wins: 15

Losses: 4

ERA: 2.63

Strikeouts: 148

Innings Pitched: 177.2

Winner: Zach Greinke

Analysis: Tim Leary had his best year of his career in 1988. He had five more total wins in 1988 than he had in any of his other 13 seasons in the majors. His 180 strikeouts were 42 more than his next highest season in his career. However, Leary cannot match 15-4 in only 177.2 innings. Greinke was dominant and might have won the Cy Young Award if not for his early season injury in the first, of many, Dodger brawls in the 2013 season.

1988 Starter #3 Tim Belcher

Wins: 12

Losses: 6

ERA: 2.91

Strikeouts: 152

Innings Pitched: 179

2014 Starter #3 Hyun Jin Ryu

Wins: 14

Losses: 8

ERA: 3.00

Strikeouts: 154

Innings Pitched: 192

Winner: Tim Belcher

Analysis: 1988 was Tim Belcher's first year as a starter and he technically only started for three quarters of the season. His WHIP of 1.080 was the lowest of his career and he did a decent job in his post season starts. Ryu was almost identical in all of the other numbers, but Belcher had a better WHIP to go along with three post season wins. Ryu had a quality start in the NLCS to go along with a terrible start in the NLDS. Belcher was 3-0 in the 1988 post season. This one is close, but Belcher wins by a hair.

1988 Starter #4 Fernando Valenzuela

Wins: 5

Losses: 8

ERA: 4.24

Strikeouts: 64

Innings Pitched: 142

2014 Starter #4 Dan Harren

Wins: 10

Losses: 14

ERA: 4.67

Strikeouts: 151

Innings Pitched: 169.2

Winner: Dan Harren

Analysis: 1988 was the beginning of the end for Fernandomania. He failed to reach double digit wins for the first time in seven seasons as injuries plagued him all year. Harren had a bad year in Washington, but is due for a bounce back season of double digit wins. He will eat up innings and hover around .500, which is all you can ask for in a fourth starter.

It is safe to say that the 2014 Dodgers have a slightly better staff, but many factors could hurt them. Up the middle is a defensive concern with Hanley Ramirez and Dee Gordon looking like the starters.

Barring injuries, this should be the best staff in baseball and could very well lead the Dodgers to their first title in 26 years.