Dodgers mailbag: Who leaves the rotation when Clayton Kershaw comes back?

The Dodgers are 51-40. That translates to a 91-win pace, which would feel a lot more impressive if the San Francisco Giants weren’t up 6.5 games in the National League West and roaring toward more than 100 wins.

But, hey, it’s a long season. The second half starts Friday. The Dodgers weathered a hellacious onslaught of injuries in the first half, and hit the break with a 2.5-game lead in the wild card standings. So there’s plenty of reasons for pride.

There are also reasons for concern. And plenty of questions to ask. I apologize for the delay, as I spent Monday and Tuesday at the All-Star Game, which operated as the cure for common insomnia. As always, you can ask me questions on Twitter @McCulloughTimes. Let’s get to it.

In situations like this, the answer is always the same: It depends.

I am not trying to be glib. But trying to predict the future is pointless. I don’t know who might get hurt, who will pitch well, who the Dodgers might trade for. The baseball cliché is, “These things tend to work themselves out,” and it really is true. The Dodgers will remove the pitchers who are performing the worst from the group. I just can’t tell you who those people are just yet.

The same answer applies here!

So I’d like to use this space to update something I wrote earlier this season. In a previous mailbag, I waved aside a question about the Dodgers pursuing Jay Bruce, citing the presence of Yasiel Puig in right field and Bruce’s lack of experience in left. Since then, Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported the Dodgers are willing to listen to trade offers for Puig, which I also subsequently heard was a possibility. It’s not a certainty that Puig will be traded, but it may be more likely than ever.

So that would clear some room for Bruce. If the Dodgers can swing a trade for him. And if they can find a suitor for Puig who makes a reasonable offer in return.

After spending a year in retirement, Joe Blanton streamlined his physique and looks much trimmer than he did earlier in his career. His fastball velocity has jumped a couple notches, and he’s sharpened the use of his slider, which he throws nearly 40% of the time. The slider has been worth 8.3 runs above average value, according to FanGraphs, which ranks second among all qualified relievers who throw sliders.

They could. I do not think they would. The Dodgers miss Zack Greinke, but it does not appear the front office has changed its philosophical stance on the inefficiency of the free-agent market for starting pitchers.

I do not think it is a particularly good idea, unless the reliever coming back to the Dodgers is elite. And it’s hard to imagine another team giving up an elite reliever for a player who missed so much time this season and is only under control for one more year after this.

For me, Chris Archer has to be in it. That’s nonnegotiable. Doesn’t make sense, otherwise.

I covered the Kansas City Royals in 2014 and 2015.

So, yes. 

I am doing great, Esteban. Despite the dullness of Tuesday’s game, I enjoyed my time in San Diego. I caught up with old friends, listened to rumors about the Dodgers’ pursuit of Yulieski Gourriel (they still might sign him, obviously) and watched Kenley Jansen look ecstatic to be part of the festivities. I am going to see Pinegrove on Wednesday at The Echo, too, which should be fun.

Thank you for asking!

Let’s eliminate the non-original ECW entrances, as they boast an unfair advantage. Otherwise, The Sandman (“Enter Sandman” by Metallica) and Shane Douglas (“Perfect Strangers” by Deep Purple) would top this list. I'd also like to give a props to Shinsuke Nakamura's entrance. 

Here’s what I’ve got:

1. Steve Austin
2. Razor Ramon
3. Bret Hart
4. Ted Dibiase
5. Rick Rude

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