Perhaps one of the biggest surprises for the Los Angeles Dodgers this season has been the emergence of Ross Stripling, who went from long reliever to spot starter to the team’s best pitcher through the first two and a half months of the 2018 campaign.
Since Stripling joined the starting rotation, he has not given up more than two earned runs in a start. His latest showing on Sunday afternoon saw him allowed four hits and two runs while striking out six without allowing a walk in 6.2 innings in a 7-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves.
In 40.2 innings since becoming a starter, Stripling has struck out 53 batters while walking just four. He said throwing strikes and not walking batters is something that he takes a lot of pride in, via Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times:
“I’ve always prided myself on being someone that doesn’t walk people,” Stripling said. “When you have a good run going, you just get more confident and you trust your stuff and continue to pump strikes.”
The win moved Stripling to 5-1 on the season in 19 appearances (eight starts). In 60 innings, he has posted a 1.65 ERA, 2.34 FIP and 1.05 WHIP while striking out 72 compared to 11 walks. His 10.8 strikeouts and 1.7 walks per nine innings are both career-best marks.
With so many starters currently on the disabled list, an argument could be made that Stripling has been the most valuable player on the roster so far this season. The Dodgers have won each of the last five games he’s started.
As Stripling continues to pitch at a high level, it is looking more and more like he will be in Washington this summer for his first career All-Star Game.
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