LA River flows: Ryan (No. 4 prospect) shines in debut

LOS ANGELES -- About seven hours before first pitch on Monday, the Dodgers dropped the news that they were designating veteran left-hander James Paxton for assignment.

At first glance, the move was surprising, given Paxton was 8-2 with a 4.43 ERA this season and is one of just two starting pitchers who has made every turn through the rotation this season for a Dodgers team that will be looking for starting pitching help before the July 30 Trade Deadline.

But part of the calculus in letting go of Paxton is that the Dodgers feel confident with the starters they’re getting back from the injured list and those they have in the Minors. No pitching prospect is more important than River Ryan, who shined in his Major League debut, allowing just one run over 5 1/3 innings of work in the Dodgers’ 3-2 win over the Giants at Dodger Stadium.

"I think it was good to kind of have some expectation on how he was going to compose himself and then it to play out as such, I thought the stuff was good,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts of Ryan's debut. "I thought he was very efficient. He was attacking. I love that."

Ryan, the Dodgers’ No. 4 prospect per MLB Pipeline, missed the first few months of the season as he worked back from a right shoulder injury. Once he returned, the young right-hander didn't waste any time showing why he’s one of the top pitching prospects in the Minors.

On Monday, Ryan showed off a high 90s four-seam fastball that is complemented by a slider, changeup and curveball. His first career strikeout came against Tyler Fitzgerald in the third inning on a 96.6 mph heater that was painted perfectly on the outside corner.

"It was great,” Ryan said. “There were definitely a lot of emotions up and down all day, but I spent some time with the Lord earlier today, definitely prayed when I got to the mound and helped me calm my nerves. It was an experience, for sure.”

As his outing grew longer, Ryan started getting more comfortable on the mound. In the sixth, however, fatigue began to set in, as Ryan had never pitched into the sixth inning in his professional career. Once he was taken out of the game, Ryan was treated to a standing ovation from the Dodger Stadium crowd and couldn’t help but break out a huge smile as he walked into the home dugout.

"It was great,” Ryan said with a smile. “Ground starts to shake a little bit when everybody gets loud. That was really fun to be a part of."

Behind Ryan was Teoscar Hernández, who once again came to the rescue offensively for the Dodgers. Hernández was responsible for all three runs on Monday, launching a solo homer off two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell in the fourth inning and delivering a pair of RBI singles, including a go-ahead knock in the eighth inning that served as the winning run.

"It’s huge,” Hernández said, "every time you get a hit or make a play in the outfield. For me, just something to put the team ahead or save the game, save a run, you get excited. That’s why we play.”

The Dodgers have gotten off to an ideal start out of the All-Star break, winning four consecutive games against the Red Sox and Giants. With the Trade Deadline approaching on Tuesday, Los Angeles will continue evaluating its roster and assess the areas of need.

Starting pitching will certainly be at the forefront of conversations, though it will have to be an impact arm. But as they sort through all those decisions, the Dodgers continue to remind the baseball world they’re still one of the best teams in the Majors -- and will only get better when healthy and if they continue to get the level of contributions they got from Ryan and Hernández on Monday.

"Everybody’s trying to do their part, not to overdo something, not trying to win by yourself every day,” Hernández said. “Just put the things the way you’re supposed to put it in. Just keep going. Help the team do the little things."