The Los Angeles Dodgers began the year with six players on the disabled list, and on Friday added to that group by placing Rich Hill on the 10-day DL because of a blister on his left middle finger. It’s the same injury that kept Hill sidelined for five weeks in 2016.
However, he doesn’t believe this year’s instance is nearly as serious, and the trip to the disabled list may conclude once Hill is eligible to be reinstated — Sunday, April 16. In the interim, the Dodgers are now in need of a starter against the Chicago Cubs on Monday.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts named Ross Stripling and Alex Wood as options being considered for a spot start, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
Alex Wood and Ross Stripling are candidates to make Hill’s start in Chicago on Monday, manager Dave Roberts said, depending on bullpen usage in the current series against the Rockies.
Noticeably absent in Roberts’ comments was Julio Urias, who is scheduled to make his 2017 debut on Monday with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Stripling and Wood reported to Spring Training as starters vying to fill out the Dodgers’ rotation.
However, Stripling was quickly identified as a bullpen candidate, and Wood ultimately lost out to Brandon McCarthy just prior to the Dodgers breaking camp.
Entering Saturday, Stripling has made two relief appearances, with his latest coming in Friday’s series opener against the Colorado Rockies. He threw 15 pitches over 1.1 scoreless innings, and has thrown 3.1 innings out of the bullpen this season.
Wood’s first and only game of 2017 came Wednesday. He tossed two scoreless innings against the San Diego Padres, and drew praise from Roberts. In eight games as a reliever last season, Stripling went 2-3 with a 2.22 ERA, which was superior to his 3-6 record and 4.52 ERA in 14 games as a starter.
Wood has made 36 relief appearances over his four-year career, going 3-2 and pitching to a 2.72 ERA and 1.16 WHIP while averaging 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings. He’s 24-48 with a 3.40 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 8.0 strikeouts per nine in 77 games as a starter.
