The Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen has struggled in recent weeks, and that is in large part to a number of key contributors being out with injuries.
Other than Kenley Jansen, who is now back, perhaps the most important pitcher still on the disabled list is Ross Stripling. He was sidelined by lower back inflammation immediately after being moved from the starting rotation to the bullpen.
Stripling made strides in his recovery this past week, first throwing on flat ground, then advancing to a bullpen session and a few days later a simulated game at Dodger Stadium.
He came out of that feeling healthy, and now is expected to be reinstated before Tuesday’s game against the Texas Rangers, via Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
Ross Stripling is expected to be activated from the disabled list on Tuesday in his native Texas after throwing a pain-free two-inning simulated game on Saturday.
Stripling may have been the Dodgers’ most valuable pitcher if the first half of the season. He moved from the bullpen into the starting rotation when the likes of Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Kenta Maeda and Walker Buehler all missed time due to injury.
All of those other starters are now healthy though, so there is a larger need for Stripling in the bullpen, where he dominated early in the season. Stripling has made 11 relief appearances thus far in 2018, posting a 0.59 ERA and 1.17 WHIP.
Overall in 28 games (17 starts) this season, Stripling holds an 8-3 record to go along with a 2.62 ERA, 3.10 FIP and 1.13 FIP while striking out 121 and walking just 17 in 110 innings.
He, along with Maeda, should help bridge the gap to Jansen for the Dodgers struggling bullpen as they look to get back in the postseason picture.
