Dodgers Way Quick Hits: Ross Stripling, Julio Urias, Kenley

In the heat of a pennant race, wins could not be more crucial for a Dodgers team striving to get back to the World Series. But, while sitting in second and clawing their way back to the throne of the division, the Dodgers lost a crucial game to the 62-83 Reds and now sit 1.5 games out of first place.

Ross Stripling, who returned from the disabled list on Friday, is scheduled to start Wednesday’s game against the Reds. Stripling will throw three innings or 45 pitches. Ross Stripling has been a key piece to the Dodgers success in 2018 as both a reliever and a starter. The 28-year old started the season in the pen where he allowed just one run in 15.2 innings pitched. The run prevention kept his reliever ERA to just .57 which earned him a spot in the starting rotation. As a starter, Stripling worked with a 2.95 ERA and has struck out 104 batters in 94.2 innings. In that same stretch, Stripling has walked just 11 batters. Needless to say, the 2018 All-Star has been great at whatever role the Dodgers throw his way and there is no sign that will slow down now.

Other news…

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• For the first time in 15 months, 22-year old Julio Urias has been placed on the Dodgers active roster. Almost a year and a half ago, Julio Urias needed anterior capsule repair surgery to treat anterior capsulitis in his left arm. The procedure is considered the equivalent to Tommy John Surgery for the shoulder except the success rate post surgery is much lower. Urias has battled his way back to the big leagues after looking pretty good in his rehab and like Urias himself, fans are waiting with bated breath for the pitcher once phenom to return to the diamond. Urias is expected to appear in games immediately, however, according to Dave Roberts, his appearances are expected to be heavily monitored and limited to just an inning at a time in low leverage situations. Urias owned a 5.40 ERA with seven walks in 11.2 innings and eight games over the course of his rehab.

• Kenley Jansen told the world on Monday that he fully expects to undergo heart surgery to fix his irregular heartbeat. The surgery will take place this offseason and it will not be the first time he has had the operation. Jansen had a similar problem back in 2012 and that offseason, Jansen had the identical surgery he will have in the 2018 offseason. Jansen is having a good year. His numbers are definitely worse than Dodger fans, and Jansen, would have hoped for but they are not bad. The biggest concern right now is not his numbers, it is his health and the Dodgers are waiting to learn of the timeline that Jansen will require to recover from this very important operation.