In order to test Maeda in that position for potential deployment in the postseason, the Dodgers placed him back into the bullpen at the end of the regular season.
He played in 29 games overall during the regular season, making 25 starts, and finished with a 13-6 record and a 4.22 ERA. He was a relief pitcher who was added to the postseason roster.
He threw three scoreless innings in the 2017 NLCS and two scoreless innings with four strikeouts in the 2017 NLDS. Maeda pitched 523 innings over four games in the 2017 World Series, which the Dodgers lost in seven games.
He gave up one run on four hits. In 32 postseason at-bats, he allowed just four hits to right-handed batters.
Maeda was a starter to start the 2018 campaign. In his 20 starts, he went 6-7, recorded a 3.85 ERA, and struck out more than 10 batters per nine innings.
He went back to the bullpen on August 14 and made 19 relief appearances, going 2-3 with two saves and a 3.57 ERA. As a reliever, he struck out 26 batters while walking just 3.
In 125+ innings across 39 games, he had an ERA of 3.81, 153 strikeouts, and an 8-10 record. Maeda pitched in relief eight times during the postseason, giving up three runs in 6.2 innings.
Maeda started the 2019 season in the Dodgers’ starting rotation once more before switching to the bullpen in the final months of the campaign.
He made 26 starts (and 11 relief outings), with 10-8, 4.04 ERA, and 169 strikeouts for his career.
How Tall Is Kenta Maeda?
Kenta Maeda’s height is 1.85 m.