The Los Angeles Dodgers have not given much indication on how their postseason roster may take shape, other than their starting rotation is likely to be comprised of Clayton Kershaw, Yu Darvish, Alex Wood and Rich Hill.
That can be deduced based on manager Dave Roberts revealing Kenta Maeda and Hyun-Jin Ryu will each receive an opportunity to audition for a spot on the playoff roster as a relief pitcher. That further complicates a bullpen picture that is hardly settled.
Kenley Jansen and Brandon Morrow are locks to make the playoff roster. From there, the Dodgers have a multitude of left- and right-handed relievers to select from. Though, Pedro Baez may have pitched his way out of consideration.
Ross Stripling is among those vying to be with the Dodgers come the playoffs, and he acknowledged being mindful of the competition in some capacity, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“It’s definitely in the back of your mind. I don’t want to lie and say it’s not,” Stripling said. “It’s not like you’re on the mound thinking, ‘If I don’t make this pitch, I might not make the postseason roster.’ But when guys like you bring it up, it obviously creeps in.”
Stripling began the season expecting to fill the role of long reliever. Success lent to him steadily pitching himself into high-leverage situations. Bumps in the road, plus Morrow’s emergence, put Stripling back in a middle relief role.
He’s struggled in his last two appearances, allowing three runs on two hits, including a home run, and suffering a loss against the Washington Nationals on Sept. 17. The day prior he retired one of two batters faced and gave way to Tony Watson.
Stripling surrendered two home runs in the seventh inning on Wednesday night, allowing the Philadelphia Phillies to erase a 4-2 deficit.
