The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled Jaime Schultz from Triple-A Oklahoma City and placed Ross Stripling on the 10-day injured list due to right biceps tendinitis, retroactive to July 25. Schultz is available for Saturday’s game against the Washington Nationals.
The right-hander is up with the Dodgers for a second time this season. He previously joined the club in the middle of April and appeared in three games, including back-to-back appearances.
Schultz allowed just one hit over a combined three scoreless innings, to go along with two walks and three strikeouts. He’s 1-2 with four saves, a 5.66 ERA and 1.57 WHIP in 36 games for Oklahoma City this season.
Stripling landing on the IL rules him out from a previously scheduled start Tuesday against the Colorado Rockies. Whether he would manage to take the mound at Coors Field was thrown into doubt when Stripling was removed from Wednesday’s outing.
He threw just 62 pitches over five innings before succumbing to a stiff neck that along with discomfort, led to diminished velocity. Stripling’s condition was improved by night’s end but he estimated his availability to start Wednesday was ’50-50.’
The neck trouble is a nagging injury he’s previously dealt with and one that impacts his ability to finish off pitches. “You could see my last inning, I was throwing 87, 88 (mph) heaters, which aren’t going to get it done,” Stripling explained.
“Essentially, you have facet joints, I guess they run up and down your whole spine. Everyone has woken up with a crick in your neck; that’s what happens when you basically piss off one of your facet joints.
“I think Floro is battling something similar. It basically means I can’t move my neck very well. I felt it a little bit before the game and then it loosened up pretty well. That was kind of a long half inning heading into my half of the fifth, and it didn’t loosen up for me. We just played it safe and got out of there.”
Stripling was seen rubbing his right shoulder and chest area, though Dodgers manager Dave Roberts asserted the trouble was centralized to his neck. With Stripling on the IL, the Dodgers will need a contingency plan to fill his spot in the rotation.
