Dodgers right-hander Ross Stripling will open the final homestand of the 2019 regular season for the 97-54 National League West first-place Dodgers on Tuesday evening at Dodger Stadium against the 89-62 American League East second-place Tampa Bay Rays.

The word ‘open’ is rather significant, as Stipling has been used as an ‘opener’ in eight of his last nine appearances since June 25, going five innings in only three of them, during which he went 1-2 with a 3.97 ERA. On the season the Bluebell, PA native and Dodgers fifth-round draft pick in 2012 out of Texas A&M is 4-4 with a 3.40 ERA in his 29 appearances (14 starts).

Stripling is one of several Dodgers pitchers auditioning for a spot in the team’s postseason starting rotation, along with 23-year-old left-hander Julio Urias, 25-year-old right-hander Tony Gonsolin and 22-year-old rookie right-hander Dustin May, although Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has indicated that May will most likely pitch out of the bullpen if he even makes the Dodgers postseason roster. (Psssst… he will).

Although it is certainly understandable why Roberts would prefer to utilize May out of his bullpen in the extremely high-leverage NLDS (and hopefully beyond), the young Justin, TX native and Dodgers third-round draft pick in 2016 out of Northwest High School is a pure, bonified proven starting pitcher, having made 73 starts in his 78 minor league appearances over four seasons down on the farm. May has also shown remarkable poise on a major league mound, even after taking a screaming line drive comebacker off his head during a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on September 1 at Chase Field. That being said and much like Stripling, May has – by design – been on a very strict pitch count and has yet to go longer than 5.2 innings in any of his four starts this season. He is 1-3 with a 4.40 ERA in his nine major league appearances and combined 28.2 innings pitched.

The Rays will counter with 26-year-old Seattle, WA native Blake Snell (6-7 / 4.28 ERA), in hopes that the hard-throwing left-hander will prove to be difficult for the extremely left-handed-heavy Dodgers lineup.

Yeah, good luck with that.

Play Ball!

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