Hottest Pitcher on the NL's Best Team


Hyun-Jin Ryu is baseball's other notable 99. The Dodgers lefthander shut the Mets out Thursday night for 7-2/3 innings, in a game L.A. won 2-0. That lowered his already microscopic ERA to 1.48 -- while the Dodgers raised their record to a best-in-the-league 36-18.

Ryu is a throwback. He never touches 100 on the radar gun, instead keeping hitters off-stride with four effective pitches. After the game, his manager Dave Roberts praised his "ability to change speeds, work to all zones, get soft contact... works quick, keeps the defense involved."

Sounds a bit like a lefthanded disciple of Hall of Famer Greg Maddux.

(My image of Ryu is from a 2013 game against the Mets at Citi Field.)

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