Los Angeles Dodgers: Current Dodgers that could benefit from a change of scenery
By Jason Reed
2. Ross Stripling
Again, another pitcher that I am a huge fan of personally but has the exact same issue that Maeda has. Ross Stripling is a very talented starting pitcher that would be a three or four guy on 90 percent of the league but is probably the Dodgers’ seventh starting pitching option heading into this season.
Stripling has taken on whatever role that the Dodgers have needed him to take on with grace. Whether it is getting a surprise call-up to the big leagues and almost throwing a no-hitter, to being an all-star while filling in with the starting rotation or being a great bullpen arm, Stripling has done everything that the Dodgers have asked.
Despite that, the Dodgers have only trusted Stripling to throw eight and one-third postseason innings in his four seasons. That is really unfortunate for Stripling.
Again, Stripling has not bene elite by any means but was really good in the first half of his 2018 all-star campaign and has a career 3.51 ERA in his four seasons. To put that into perspective, Stripling ranks 24th in the league in ERA among pitchers with at least 350 innings since 2016.
He has been the 24th-best pitcher in the league in limiting runs and probably won’t be in the Dodgers’ starting rotation unless someone is hurt.
It is pretty obvious that Stripling would benefit from a move to a team that would trot him out every five days to pitch.