Athletics' Ross Stripling: Impressive in long relief Friday
Rotowire
Stripling fired 4.1 scoreless relief innings in a loss to the Brewers on Friday, allowing two hits and two walks while recording four strikeouts. He did not factor into the decision.
Starter JP Sears was atypically ineffective and chased after 3.2 innings and 90 pitches, so Stripling was called on to deploy his multi-inning capabilities and ideally spare some of his bullpen mates. The one-time starter came through as hoped, getting 13 outs on 68 pitches to serve as a bridge to the ninth inning. The outing was only Stripling's second since officially being moved to the bullpen, with his first relief appearance having come nine days prior against the Mets.
Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said Tuesday that Stripling is being shifted to a long-relief role, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Stripling has a 5.72 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 40:16 K:BB across 72.1 innings (14 starts) this season, and he'll be removed from the rotation in favor of Oakland's younger arms. He didn't have much fantasy utility as a starter given the lack of effectiveness, and that's not likely to change in a long-relief role.
Stripling (2-11) allowed four runs on five hits and a walk while striking out two in 5.1 innings during Tuesday's loss to the White Sox.
Stripling kept the White Sox off the board through three innings before Andrew Benintendi got a hold of one for a two-run blast in the fourth. That was enough to put Stripling in line for the loss, as the Athletics only mustered up a single run on the night. Stripling's outing carried into the sixth, but he was only able to record one out before being pulled after giving up a walk and two singles, which led to another run. He was charged with a fourth run before the inning concluded. Stripling's 11 losses are tied for third most in baseball and his 5.72 ERA would be the second-worst mark among all qualified pitchers if he had enough innings under his belt. The 34-year-old will look for a bounce-back outing his next time out against the Mets next week.
Stripling took the loss against the Giants on Wednesday, allowing one run on four hits and one walk over 5.2 innings. He did not record a strikeout.
Stripling pitched well throughout the contest, allowing the leadoff man to reach just one time over his 5.2 innings of work while surrendering only two-extra base hits. The only run he allowed on the night came on a sacrifice fly in the fifth. However, the veteran right-hander would still go on to take his fifth loss in his last six starts (dating back to May 7) due to Oakland's offense being shut out by Logan Webb. Stripling also failed to record a strikeout for the first time this season and finished the month of July with a 4.76 ERA and a 3:3 K:BB over two starts.
Athletics' Ross Stripling: Activated ahead of start
Rotowire
The Athletics activated Stripling (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to start against the Angels on Thursday.
Stripling will rejoin the rotation Thursday in Anaheim after missing two months with a flexor strain. He had a maximum pitch count of 56 in his three rehab outings, so the veteran right-hander will be limited from a workload standpoint versus the Halos.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Ross Stripling: Picks up win in return
Rotowire
Stripling (2-9) picked up the win over the Angels on Thursday, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks over 5.2 innings while striking out three.
Stripling ran into trouble in the second inning after allowing four consecutive batters to reach base with one out. He would end up being tagged for five runs in the frame but recovered nicely, retiring 13 of the next 15 batters he faced as the Oakland offense roared back in an eventual 6-5 victory. The right-hander has surrendered at least four runs in each of his last three starts dating back to May 18, and Stripling had also lost each of his previous four starts prior to Thursday's win.
Athletics' Ross Stripling: Returning from IL to start Thursday
Rotowire
Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said Stripling (elbow) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Thursday's game in Anaheim, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Stripling has been sidelined since late May with a flexor strain but is ready to rejoin the big club after making three rehab starts. The veteran right-hander had a maximum pitch count of 56 across the three outings, so he'll probably be a bit limited from a workload perspective against the Angels.
