Fresh off a sweep of the Houston Astros, the Los Angeles Dodgers continue their road trip in the opener of a four-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
Making his second start of the season is Ross Stripling, who looks to build off an excellent 2020 debut against the San Francisco Giants. In seven innings of work, he allowed just one run on four hits with seven strikeouts.
A lot of those strikeouts came on his new changeup, which he worked on extensively during Summer Camp. “A lot more confident, for sure,” Stripling said.
“New grip, kind of had it in Spring Training and then almost got away from during quarantine but brought it back and then worked on it hard during Summer Camp. Throwing it to our guys and getting some feedback from them and they said keep working on it, keep chucking, and I was able to throw a handful of really good ones tonight.
“I’ve faced some of those hitters over there many times, and feel like I got some swing-and-misses on the changeup, so maybe a new wrinkle they haven’t seen. Good to get some instant feedback from it. Just going to continue throwing it.”
Stripling has enjoyed modest success against the Diamondbacks since entering the league in 2016, going 1-4 with a 3.86 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 58.1 innings pitched (23 games, eight starts).
The right-hander earned the final spot in the Dodgers starting rotation at the end of Summer Camp — an opening that was created by David Price opting out of playing this season.
The Diamondbacks counter with Robbie Ray, who struggled in his first start of the season against the San Diego Padres. He yielded seven baserunners and three runs in just 3.2 innings, although he did manage to strike out seven batters as well.
Ray is plenty familiar with the Dodgers, having made 20 starts against them since 2014 — the most of any team he’s faced. The left-hander owns an 8-5 record against L.A., posting a 3.15 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 161 strikeouts against 56 walks in 120 innings pitched.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Max Muncy
3B: Justin Turner
CF: Cody Bellinger
LF: AJ Pollock
SS: Chris Taylor
DH: Corey Seager
2B: Kiké Hernandez
C: Will Smith
Diamondbacks lineup
2B: Ketel Marte
RF: Kole Calhoun
CF: Starling Marte
3B: Eduardo Escobar
1B: Christian Walker
LF: David Peralta
DH: Jake Lamb
C: Carson Kell
SS: Nick Ahmed
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