Dodgers Quick Hits: Goeddel brothers, Stripling, Roster Moves

On Friday, May 18th, the Dodgers announced that they claimed right-handed reliever, Erik Goeddel off waivers from the Mariners. Goeddel, who is 29-years old, has been a major league reliever since 2014 and has fared pretty well in his four-year career. Goeddel features a fastball in the low 90’s which, for many bullpen pitchers, does not quite cut it in terms of velocity but for Goeddel, that is not the case. In his career, he has averaged a tick over a strikeout an inning and carries a strikeout per nine innings rate of 9.5. Other than his impressive strikeout rate, Goeddel has a career ERA of 3.78 but an ERA+ that would indicate he is slightly above average, and perhaps better than his ERA, at 107. Goeddel is out of options so as long as he is a Dodger, it will be on a major league roster.

Other Notes…

• Just a day before Erik Goeddel’s move to the Dodgers, his brother, 25-year old left fielder, Tyler Goeddel, was signed by the Dodgers and assigned to Double-A Tulsa where he made his debut on the same day as his signing. The younger of the two brothers has not experienced the same major league success as the other and has not appeared in a major league game since spending 92 games on the Phillies roster back in 2016. In that stretch, Tyler Goeddel was held to a batting average of just .195 while hitting four home runs along with 16 RBI’s. Tyler Goeddel has played fairly well in the minor leagues though posting a batting average in the mid-200s and a has shown great speed, stealing 125 bases since 2012.

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• Right-handed pitcher, Ross Stripling, who began the year in the bullpen has been moved to the rotation where he has looked like a star over his past few outings. The 28-year old pitcher, who played well from the pen last year and at the start of the 2018 campaign. But, in the month of May, where Ross has been used as a starter, his numbers have taken on the form of an ace as he’s pitched in 16.1 innings and has struck out an unreal 22 batters, nine of which came in his gem against the Nationals. If Stripling can continue his torrid success from the rotation, the Dodgers may have a hard time moving him back to the bullpen and may consider moving a different starter to a relief role. But, for the time being, with Ryu and Kershaw out Stripling’s role in the rotation is pretty much a sure thing.

• In the past 24 hours, the Dodgers have made a flurry of roster moves to accommodate players returning from the disabled list and to add Erik Goeddel to the roster. First, the Dodgers reinstated lefty, Tony Cingrani from the DL after some time on the shelf due to a dead arm. His return forced Adam Liberatore back to the minor leagues after he spent a month on the major league roster. In addition to adding Cingrani, the Dodgers added Erik Goeddel to the roster and optioned switch pitcher, Pat Venditte, to the minors. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers designated Henry Owens for assignment.

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