Dodgers Way Quick Hits: Ross Stripling, Kenley Jansen, David Freese

The Dodgers went into St. Louis looking for a win and their offense after getting decimated by the Reds in Cincinnati. Not only did they find the win column on Thursday night, the Dodgers offense exploded for nine runs with Manny Machado at the helm of the action.

Ross Stripling looked really good in his first real appearance after getting activated from the disabled list and it was so good that the management decided they would slot the 28-year-old right-hander back into the rotation, a role he was an All-Star in. Stripling will take the mound on Sunday, pushing Hyun-Jin Ryu back to Monday’s game. Since Stripling will rejoin the rotation, Alex Wood will pitch from the bullpen in wake of some lackluster starts specifically the most recent appearance against the Reds. The move to the pen will allow Alec Wood to reset both physically and mentally but, moreover, it gives the young southpaw and opportunity to be a shutdown lefty from the pen.

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• While Ross Stripling has looked strong lately, Kenley Jansen has not. Jansen continues to buoy his ERA and lower his ERA+ this season as he has just not been able to find his groove like in years past. Jansen’s velocity has been inconsistent but his biggest inconsistency is his ability to keep runners off the bases. Against the Cardinals, Jansen loaded the bases and gave up two runs before ending the game on a groundout from Matt Adams. The pure dominance fans are used to is yet to show up this season and after receiving the news on his heart, that dominance may not be back until next season.

• David Freese has come to Los Angeles and delivered on making the Dodgers a better team. The front office acquired Freese so he can be a clutch hitter who gets the job done; he has done nothing but that since coming out west from the Pirates. In his tenure as a Dodgers, Freese is hitting a grand total of .400 with the Dodgers and has come up with one clutch hit after the other. Dave Roberts will be hard pressed to continue to platoon him from here on out but that is a good problem to have, one they wished they had earlier in the season.