After successfully completing a two-game sweep over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ schedule presents them a second day off this week before resuming action on Friday against the San Francisco Giants.
The extra rest figures to benefit a Dodgers pitching staff that has been decimated by injuries in recent weeks. Particularly the bullpen, which has managed a heavy workload as a result of multiple starting pitchers landing on the disabled list.
Only one change is expected for the Dodgers’ rotation this weekend. Ross Stripling will make his next turn on Friday while Alex Wood’s start has been pushed back to the following day, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
Right-hander Ross Stripling will start Friday on normal rest with left-hander Alex Wood moved back a day to Saturday.
Stripling looks to build off a strong outing against the Atlanta Braves on June 10, where he allowed two earned runs in 6.2 innings pitched with six strikeouts and no walks.
Wood, however, has struggled as of late in terms of results and durability. In his last two starts combined, he logged only 6.2 frames while yielding 14 hits and eight runs to boot.
Despite the rough stretch, Wood is adamant that poor performance is merely mechanics-related, and not health. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts feels differently about the matter, and commended Wood for continuing to compete despite not being 100 percent healthy.
The Dodgers toyed with the idea of shifting Wood the bullpen, where he may thrive with a lighter workload, but a recent rash of injuries to the starting rotation has consequently scrapped that possibility.
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