Maddie Meyer/Getty ImagesStarting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu reportedly accepted the Los Angeles Dodgers' one-year qualifying offer
Monday.Jon Heyman of Fancred and MLB Network reported the news
http://www.royalsfanproshop.com/authentic-brandon-moss-jersey , while Mark Feinsand of MLB.com noted Ryu had until Monday's 5 p.m. ET deadline
to accept the $17.9 million offer.Ryu is a terrific rotation option when
healthy. The 31-year-old South Korea native showcased that in 2018 as he posted
a microscopic 1.97 ERA to go along with a 1.01 WHIP and 89 strikeouts in 82.1
innings across 15 starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers.Injuries have been a
consistent part of his story since signing with L.A. in December 2012,
though.After making 30 starts in his debut MLB season, he's failed to reach that
threshold in any of the past five years. That includes missing the entire 2015
campaign and making just a single start in 2016 while dealing with back,
shoulder and elbow problems.In May, after suffering a groin injury that ended up
keeping him on the disabled list until mid-August, he expressed his exasperation
with the latest in a series of setbacks."It doesn't feel good," Ryu told
reporters through an interpreter. "This seems to be worse than the ones in the
past. Definitely very disappointed. I came into the season very healthy and had
very good performances in the season. At this point, I'm very frustrated and
very disappointed."While the 2008 Olympic gold medalist shined upon his return,
posting a 1.88 ERA in nine starts during the stretch run of the regular season,
he struggled during the playoffs. He compiled a 5.21 ERA in four postseason
outings, including four earned runs in 4.2 innings in Game 2 of the 2018 World
Series.His overall track record is strong
Bo Jackson Jersey , however, and the main concern is obviously the health woes, not his performance in last season's playoffs.Ryu's choice to return gives
the Dodgers six starters with Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Rich Hill, Kenta
Maeda and Alex Wood also in the rotation mix. It will be intriguing to see
whether the team uses them all or jettisons one to the bullpen until an injury
arises.An extra day off between starts could help the veteran left-hander in his
quest to remain healthy. CHICAGO — When Cole Hamels joined the Chicago Cubs
earlier this season, the veteran starter didn’t expect he would take on such a
vital role. But as the Cubs close in on what they hope is their third straight
National League Central Division title, Hamels could be a major reason why.
Coming off his worst start joining the Cubs, Hamels will attempt to keep Chicago
moving in the right direction when he takes the mound Monday against the
Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field.Hamels (9-10, 3.90 ERA) has not recorded a
victory since Aug. 28 and had registered no-decisions in three straight starts
before being roughed up in his last outing against the Arizona
Diamondbacks.Article continues below ...Now, with the Cubs magic number at five
to clinch the division title after a 6-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox
Sunday
Paulo Orlando Jersey , Hamels hopes to rebound Monday against the Pirates. Hamels is coming off a start in which he allowed seven runs and nine
hits over six innings as he surrendered more than three earned runs for the
first time since July 23 — his final start with the Texas Rangers. Hamels is 5-3
with a 2.49 ERA in 12 career starts against Pittsburgh.Despite taking two of
three games from the White Sox over the weekend, the Cubs realize that they
still have to take care of their business as they cling to a 2 1/2 game lead
over the Milwaukee Brewers with seven games to play.“Let’s not get too far ahead
of ourselves,” Cubs ace Jon Lester told reporters Saturday, according to the
Chicago Tribune. “We’re only 2 1/2 games ahead. We have a long way to go.”The
Cubs will attempt to keep their focus set on the Pirates, who will look to play
spoiler starting Monday against the Brewers. But as Chicago attempts to close
out the division title, second baseman Javier Baez says Chicago cannot become
consumed by the teams chasing them.“We know what we have,” Baez said Saturday,
according to the Tribune. “We just have to stay away from every other team. They
have to pay attention to us, not us to them. If we do that, we should be
good.”The Pirates will travel to Chicago having lost having officially been
eliminated from playoff contention. Their 13-6 loss to the Brewers, coupled with
the Cardinals’ victory over the Giants wiped out any hopes Pittsburgh had of
seeing the season extend beyond the next week.Despite Sunday’s loss
http://www.royalsfanproshop.com/authentic-danny-duffy-jersey , Pittsburgh has won six of their past eight games and could have an impact on
Chicago’s division title chances depending on how they next four days against
the Cubs play out.But impacting other teams’ title chances doesn’t diminish the
disappointment the Pirates feel after failing to miss the postseason for the
third straight season.“If we figure out how to win one game a month more, we’re
in a very different spot as we finish this season,” Pirates general manager Neal
Huntington told reporters before Sunday’s game, according to MLB.com. “If we win
two games a month more, we’re fighting for a division, which is ultimately where
we want to be, because (it puts you in) best positions you to win a World
Series.”Jameson Taillon (13-9, 3.24) will take the mound for the Pirates on
Monday having won four of his past six starts.Taillon threw seven scoreless
innings in his last outing against the Kansas City Royals when he allowed just
four hits and struck out 11. Taillon is 3-3 with a 4.35 ERA in seven career
starts against the Cubs.
