As the Los Angeles Dodgers were concluding a weekend set at Coors Field that saw them lose three of four to the Colorado Rockies, manager Dave Roberts announced Kenta Maeda and Ross Stripling were being placed in the bullpen for the foreseeable future.
The decision was intended to stabilize a unit that had begun to unravel with Kenley Jansen on the 10-day disabled list due to heart trouble. But being that Stripling and Maeda each started against the Rockies, they weren’t due to be available for a couple days.
Specifically, the Dodgers planned to have Stripling as an option out of the bullpen Tuesday, and Maeda the following night for the series finale with the San Francisco Giants.
However, Stripling is dealing with a back issue that might remove him as an option for Roberts, according to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times:
Roberts said Ross Stripling has a sore back muscle and might not be available tonight.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) August 14, 2018
If Stripling is unable to pitch, it will leave the Dodgers without two right-handed relief pitchers they otherwise were expecting to have. John Axford was placed on the 10-day disabled list because of a fractured fibula suffered during his appearance on Sunday.
Moreover, as the team searches for an answer in the ninth inning, Stripling was at least willing to attempt closing games out while Jansen recovers.
