Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers stood pat at the trade deadline Monday afternoon. They didn’t make any major moves for Lance Lynn or any other big names that have been linked to trade rumors.
We did learn, about an hour after the trade deadline had passed, the Dodgers dealt right-handed pitcher Ross Stripling to the Toronto Blue Jays for two players to be named later.
Toronto added three pitchers this week including Taijuan Walker and Robbie Ray. Stripling will also be reunited with old friend Hyun_jin Ryu.
It’s not a huge surprise the Dodgers moved Stripling considering the fact they attempted to trade Stripling along with Joc Pederson to the Angels in the spring.
After the deal fell through, Stripling got an opportunity to break with the team as a starter. David Price opted out of the season, opening a door to the rotation for Stripling. Stripling went 3-1 with a 5.61 ERA and 1.455 WHIP in seven starts this season.
The biggest problem was the dramatic increase in home runs. He allowed 12 long balls in 33.2 IP this season (3.2 HR/9). He only gave up 11 homers in 90+ innings pitched last season. It’s no wonder why the Dodgers began to feel bearish on Stripling. At least this will be my final Stripling stockbroker joke.
Chicken Strip was with the Dodgers for five seasons and was an All-Star in 2018 after pitching a fantastic first half campaign. He went 23-25 with a 3.68 ERA and 3.89 FIP in 143 games (420.2 IP) with L.A.
The back of the rotation has been somewhat of a weak spot on the roster. Alex Wood is hurt. Stripling and Julio Urias have struggled.
That means the Dodgers will depend more on Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin going down the stretch and possibly in the postseason.
Despite some bumpy starts from their backend guys, the Dodgers have the best ERA in baseball (2.76). Their relief squad has been lights out (2.04 ERA), and overall the starting squad’s 3.39 ERA is second-best in the NL.
The Dodgers have a +90 run differential coming into September and sit five games ahead of the San Diego Padres in the NL West. They’re 16-8 against their division. With 24 games remaining in the abbreviated season, the Dodgers are on their way to their 8th straight NL West title.
There was little need to do much at the deadline, especially when you also consider the risk it adds to make players move and mix during a pandemic.
The 2020 Dodgers may be the best iteration of the Dodgers I have seen in many years. Why mess with a good thing?
