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Los Angeles Dodgers Players of the Week: Return of the Matt

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 23: Walker Buehler #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Ross Stripling #68 line up before the game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on May 23, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 23: Walker Buehler #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Ross Stripling #68 line up before the game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on May 23, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Dodgers
(Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Dodgers /

2. Ross Stripling

  • Weekly stats: 13.2 IP, 10 H, 2 BB, 1 ER, 19 Ks

Ross Stripling did get the advantage of making two starts this week, hence why his numbers are so inflated compared to Buehler’s. However, Stripling still continued his hot streak into this past week and not only had the best pitching performance on the Dodgers but perhaps in the entire MLB.

It only took an extremely hot week from one of the Dodgers’ hitters to keep Stripling off of the top spot in this list.

Stripling, a long-relief arm that was thriving in the bullpen this year, has cemented his place as a starter on the Dodgers. In 48.1 innings pitched this season, Stripling has a 1.68 ERA and 59 strikeouts.

His 10.99 K/9 is the 12th-most in baseball of pitchers with at least 40 innings tossed and his 1.68 ERA is fourth. The only pitchers with 40 or more innings thrown with a better ERA are Justin Verlander, Jacob DeGrom and Carlos Martinez.

Stripling’s only earned run this week was from a solo home run off the bat of Nick Williams. At that point in the game, the Dodgers were already up 7-0 and Stripling simply left a pitch up in the zone. It was not a moon shot, either, as it did not even reach the second row of the left-field bleachers.

Ross Stripling and Walker Buehler have been huge for the Dodgers this season as the team battles pitching injuries. Their success is imperative if the Dodgers want to continue to succeed.

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