The Los Angeles Dodgers entered Wednesday’s game against the Atlanta Braves in somewhat of a precarious position, having used five relievers in a blowout loss the night prior as Alex Wood was chased after just four innings.
Compacting matters in the middle of a three-game set was rookie Ross Stripling taking the mound. Stripling is on an unspecified innings limit this season that may result in him getting moved to the bullpen.
In just his third start of the season, Stripling managed to toss 3.2 innings, allowing six hits, three runs (two earned), walking two and collecting four strikeouts. He exited with the Dodgers trailing 3-0.
Adam Liberatore entered and struck out Freddie Freeman to end the fourth inning. J.P. Howell (1.2 innings pitched), Chris Hatcher (1.1), Yimi Garcia (one), Joe Blanton (one) and Kenley Jansen (one) all appeared in the Dodgers’ extra-innings win.
For Blanton, Garcia, Howell and Liberatore, it was a second consecutive night pitching since Monday’s off day. It was revealed after the game that Pedro Baez was unavailable due to being hit by a pitch as Liberatore warmed up, via Andy McCullough of the LA Times:
“It hit him square in the back of the head,” Roberts said. “It wasn’t a full 90-mph-plus fastball. But it was still Lib getting loose. Airmailed one and hit him in the back of the head.”
Baez, who has appeared in six games (5.1 innings pitched) this season, sports a 3.38 ERA, 5.68 FIP, 0.94 WHIP and has nine strikeouts to zero walks. Baez was sent for medical tests and felt better on Thursday, though was going through concussion protocol.
