Dodgers' pitching staff is a shutdown force

If the Dodgers get back to the World Series for a third straight year, much of the attention will focus on Cody Bellinger, who is having an MVP season.

But it is the moundwork that could make this team a three-time National League champion.

Hyun Jin-Ryu is having a masterful season, posting an 8-1 record and 1.48 ERA. Walker Buehler, the ace in waiting, is 6-1 with a 3.69 ERA and Kenta Maeda is 7-2 with a 3.61 ERA. Rich Hill came off the injury list and looks strong at 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA.

Then there's Clayton Kershaw, he of the diminished fastball who is 5-0 with a 3.20 ERA. He's doing it with smoke and mirrors these days, and a
devastating slider and curve, and the Dodgers just don't lose when he takes the hill.

And if those five were not enough, Julio Urias (3-2) and Ross Stripling (2-2) are working out of the pen and can start if Roberts needs them.

The only real weakness so far is the middle relief where Roberts hopes Urias and Caleb Ferguson can settle things down for closer Kenley Jansen, who has found his groove again.

The Dodgers are up 9.5 games on the Rockies and have the best record in the National League and second best in all of baseball.

They have won six in a row and 10 out of 11. It doesn't get much better than this.

When they cool off, which they inevitably will, that pitching staff will keep the slumps from getting out of hand.

As for that World Series, let's hope the third time is the charm.