Jamie Harms/MiLB.com
The Los Angeles Dodgers are tops in the NL East by a game over the San Francisco Giants, and hoping to continue their winning ways as they work towards securing their fourth straight division title.
At the moment their pitching staff is missing the key ingredient to success in Clayton Kershaw, who was 11-2, with a 1.79 ERA before he went on the DL back on July 1st, retroactive to June 27th with a mild disc herniation. On August 3rd, the Dodgers placed him on the 60-day DL, but with hope that he can still make a comeback this season and contribute to their playoff run.
The current rotation consists of rookies Julio Urias (4-2, 3.95), Scott Kazmir (10-6, 4.59) who was shelled in his last outing giving up four runs on six hits and three walks in 2.2 innings, Bud Norris (6-10, 4.69), and Kenta Maeda (12-7, 3.29).
So help is needed and the answer may be right in their own system as right handed pitcher Jose De Leon is 6-1, with a 2.69 ERA, and 98 strikeouts in 78.2 innings spanning 15 starts with the Triple-A affiliate Oklahoma City Dodgers.
The Puerto Rican native was drafted by the Dodgers in the 24th round in 2013 out of Southern University.
In De Leon’s last start he took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, while also tying a season high 10 strikeouts, a feat that he has accomplished four times this season. He lost his no-hitter after giving up a lead-off single in the seventh, and was removed at the end of the innings allowing just one hit in the game.
Over his last five starts, dating back to July 30th, he is 3-0, with two no decisions, allowing just six runs, on 19 hits, striking out 33 batters in 34 innings.
The top pitching prospect has gone deep into games failing just once over the past few weeks to get past the sixth inning, but has tossed seven innings in the last three outings, which could be a great sign for the big club that his arm is durable and able to provide a needed boost down the stretch.
If the Dodgers are to repeat as Division champs and hold off the Giants, they will need all hands on deck, and De Leon is the next young star ready to take center stage in LA.
David Conde
David is the Co-Founder and Executive Editor of Legends On Deck®, as well as a Co-Host on Legends On Deck Podcast. David was a Senior Editor for MetsMerizedOnline.com, MetsMinors.net and Contributor for Hardballchat.com that spanned from 2010 to 2014. David made his MLB Debut as a writer in June 2014, while covering the NY Mets at Citi Field, for MetsmerizedOnline.com. David also coaches baseball for ages 13-15, a Babe Ruth League team in his local community. David's passion is coaching the game he loves to the future Legends of Tomorrow as well as making available a website that people can have fun sharing and reading. David is also passionate about his career as a Mortgage Loan Officer which allows him to help many families reach their dreams of owning a home. Connect with David via his Social Media pages as he loves to chat all about baseball.
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