Dodgers Way Quick Hits: Stripling, Santana, Utley, Maeda

The Dodgers handled the Phillies 8-2 on Wednesday behind strong performances by Matt Kemp and Ross Stripling. Stripling threw seven strong innings allowing just one run on a solo home run and Matt Kemp hit a two-run shot and finished the game with four RBI’s. Max Muncy also hit a home run and Cody Bellinger showed some offensive life by recording two base hits. It was an encouraging sign that the Dodgers were able to put up eight runs on a night that Justin Turner was off. Today the Dodgers will look to secure a series victory against the Phillies before departing to Colorado to play the Rockies.

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Ross Stripling’s seven-inning start was exactly what the doctor ordered as the Dodger bullpen was used extensively in the previous two games. Stripling now has the fourth lowest ERA in baseball for the month of May with a 0.93 ERA. The only starters with better ERA’s in May are Justin Verlander, Jacob DeGrom, and Jake Arrieta.

Dennis Santana was promoted prior to Wednesday’s game and is going to be available out of the bullpen for Thursday’s game as he was for Wednesday’s game. Santana is the Dodgers ninth-ranked prospect and has made quick work of the Dodgers’ minor league system after being converted from shortstop to pitching in 2015. Santana was 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA with the Oklahoma City Dodgers. There is a chance that Santana could make a start in Colorado but that is yet to be determined.

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Kenta Maeda was officially placed on the disabled list on Wednesday after being diagnosed with a mild right hip strain. On Dodger talk prior to Wednesday’s game, Alanna Rizzo mentioned that Maeda had a similar strain in Japan and only missed a week. There is a chance that Maeda will be ready to return after his ten days on the DL are up. That would be good news since Maeda has been the Dodgers second-best pitcher lately after Ross Stripling.

Chase Utley was also placed on the disabled list on Wednesday which cleared the way for switch-pitcher Pat Venditte to be recalled. The official injury for Utley is a sprained thumb although the timing makes is a suspicious injury and perhaps the Dodgers are manipulating the ten day DL again. Venditte pitched the ninth inning in Wednesday’s game and allowed one run to score. Venditte has been nails for the OKC Dodgers posting a 1.25 ERA and holding opposing hitters to a .139 batting average.

Next: The Dodger bullpen is slowly becoming reliable

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