Dodgers’ Ryu to skip a game as slump continues

In the midst of his worst slump of the season, Los Angeles Dodgers’ Korean starter Ryu Hyun-jin will skip a turn in the rotation this week.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters in Los Angeles on Friday that the left-hander will sit out his scheduled start tomorrow against the Baltimore Orioles.

Ryu’s bid to become the first Asian-born pitcher to win the Cy Young has taken a beating over the past four starts, during which he gave up 21 earned runs in 19 innings and went 0-3.

His ERA has gone up by a full run from 1.45 to 2.45, though he still leads the MLB in that category.

In his most recent start on Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies at home, Ryu got the hook with one out in the fifth inning and the Dodgers up 7-3. He was two outs away from qualifying for his first win since Aug. 11, but Roberts yanked him after Ryu gave up three consecutive singles.

Ryu has insisted he is healthy, a sentiment repeatedly echoed by Roberts.

Yonhap