Dodgers’ Bargain Outperforming Big-Money Aces

The Dodgers are paying a staggering amount of money to their pitching staff — but their latest ace has yet to break six figures.

Tony Gonsolin (8-0) — who threw 6⅓ scoreless innings in Tuesday’s win over the Angels, striking out six and allowing a single hit — has the lowest ERA in the majors this season (1.42).

If that kind of production tracks for a $78.3 million pitching payroll, consider that the 2016 ninth-rounder and dark-horse Cy Young candidate is only making $720,000, tied for fourth-lowest on the staff — and miles away from Clayton Kershaw’s $17 million.

• He’s the first NL pitcher to record eight wins this season.
• Known mostly for a splitter-slider combo, Gonsolin threw 42 four-seamers to induce eight swings-and-misses in Tuesday’s victory.
• His 1.42 ERA is the third-lowest in team history through 12 starts.

Thanks in large part to Gonsolin, the Dodgers currently boast the second-lowest ERA in the league (3.01) and second-fewest earned runs (181) behind the Yankees, as well as the second-fewest hits allowed (433) after the Guardians. 

The 28-year-old is playing his way into what could be his first big contract — he won’t be a free agent until 2027, but he’s set for arbitration next season. 

And if it feels like Gonsolin is an afterthought as ninth-favorite (+2500) to win the NL Cy Young, he’ll surely settle for a World Series title — L.A. (+425) has the best odds to win it all.