Ross

Stripling

Stripling went to his All-Star Game with the Dodgers in 2018, when he finished 8-6 with a 3.02 ERA and a 136/22 K/BB in 122 innings. He also excelled for the Blue Jays in 2022, going 10-4 with a 3.01 ERA, but he’d struggled mightily since, compiling a 2-16 record and a 5.68 ERA between 2023 with the Giants and Athletics. That left him 40-54 with a career 4.17 ERA in 846 1/3 innings at the highest level.

Stripling exercised the opt-out clause in his contract after he was informed that he didn’t make the Royals’ Opening Day roster. The 35-year-old right-hander has struggled in recent years with a 5.36 ERA in 2023 and a 6.01 ERA in 2024. Stripling didn’t exactly cover himself in glory this spring with a 14.63 ERA, 2.25 WHIP and 2/1 K/BB ratio in eight innings. He’ll look to catch on with another organization, but will probably have to settle for another minor-league deal.

Stripling just signed a week ago, so it’s understandable if he’s behind. Still, he’s not working with a lot of margin for error in making the Royals, not after going 2-11 with a 6.01 ERA for the A’s last season.

Stripling was hit hard last year with the Athletics, struggling to a bloated 6.01 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 49/22 K/BB ratio across 85 1/3 innings (22 appearances, 14 starts). However, there’s a glimmer of optimism in his underlying data, most notably a respectable 3.89 FIP and an impossibly low 54.8 percent strand rate, which suggests he still has something left in the tank. The 35-year-old figures to operate in a versatile swingman-type role for Kansas City, if he makes their season-opening roster. He’s a non-factor for fantasy purposes given his lackluster strikeout rates, but he represents a quality depth addition for the Royals.

Stripling is back for a surprise cameo. The 34-year-old, who had been out with a back strain, has a 6.08 ERA in 14 starts and seven relief appearances this season.

Stripling served two IL stints last year due to back issues. It seems unlikely we’ll see him again this season at this late date, but a return hasn’t been ruled out yet. Stripling has a 6.08 ERA in 14 starts and seven relief appearances for the A’s.

The Athletics are going to look at some of their younger alternatives in their starting rotation for the remainder of the season as their long-term rebuilding effort continues. The 34-year-old veteran will pitch in long relief duty for the final few weeks of the year.

A tough break for Stripling, who became the first pitcher to lose to the White Sox since Baltimore’s Bob Milacki in 1992. He dropped to 2-11 with a 5.72 ERA, and he’d most likely be making a strong run at 20 losses if he hadn’t missed nearly two months with an elbow strain.

Stripling junk-balled his way to a pretty effective outing in this one. He threw all five of his pitchers at least 10% of the time and just 31% of his total pitch-mix was either fastballs or sinkers. No individual pitch was particularly effective, but the sum of their whole was better than their parts as the Giants were sufficiently off-balance all night. Yet, the lack of strikeouts means he isn’t a viable option in nearly all leagues.

Stripling allowed six hits, walked two and struck out three in improving to 2-9 with a 6.02 ERA. The two-month-long IL stint has ruined his chances of racking up a 20-loss season, but he’ll be a key figure in eating up innings for the A’s the rest of the way.