Stripling (back) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday and another several days after, MLB.com reports.
The veteran right-hander has been on the injured list since last Tuesday with a lower-back strain, and Wednesday will mark the first time he'll attempt to do any throwing since that point. If all goes well with the session, Stripling is slated to repeat the process at some point after the Athletics begin a homestand Friday against the Yankees. Despite the recent developments, a return for Stripling before the end of the regular season isn't a certainty in the view of manager Mark Kotsay, per the Associated Press.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Ross Stripling: Impressive in long relief Friday
Rotowire
Stripling fired 4.1 scoreless relief innings in a loss to the Brewers on Friday, allowing two hits and two walks while recording four strikeouts. He did not factor into the decision.
Starter JP Sears was atypically ineffective and chased after 3.2 innings and 90 pitches, so Stripling was called on to deploy his multi-inning capabilities and ideally spare some of his bullpen mates. The one-time starter came through as hoped, getting 13 outs on 68 pitches to serve as a bridge to the ninth inning. The outing was only Stripling's second since officially being moved to the bullpen, with his first relief appearance having come nine days prior against the Mets.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Ross Stripling: Moved to bullpen
Rotowire
Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said Tuesday that Stripling is being shifted to a long-relief role, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Stripling has a 5.72 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 40:16 K:BB across 72.1 innings (14 starts) this season, and he'll be removed from the rotation in favor of Oakland's younger arms. He didn't have much fantasy utility as a starter given the lack of effectiveness, and that's not likely to change in a long-relief role.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Ross Stripling: Dealt 11th loss
Rotowire
Stripling (2-11) allowed four runs on five hits and a walk while striking out two in 5.1 innings during Tuesday's loss to the White Sox.
Stripling kept the White Sox off the board through three innings before Andrew Benintendi got a hold of one for a two-run blast in the fourth. That was enough to put Stripling in line for the loss, as the Athletics only mustered up a single run on the night. Stripling's outing carried into the sixth, but he was only able to record one out before being pulled after giving up a walk and two singles, which led to another run. He was charged with a fourth run before the inning concluded. Stripling's 11 losses are tied for third most in baseball and his 5.72 ERA would be the second-worst mark among all qualified pitchers if he had enough innings under his belt. The 34-year-old will look for a bounce-back outing his next time out against the Mets next week.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Ross Stripling: Takes tough loss
Rotowire
Stripling took the loss against the Giants on Wednesday, allowing one run on four hits and one walk over 5.2 innings. He did not record a strikeout.
Stripling pitched well throughout the contest, allowing the leadoff man to reach just one time over his 5.2 innings of work while surrendering only two-extra base hits. The only run he allowed on the night came on a sacrifice fly in the fifth. However, the veteran right-hander would still go on to take his fifth loss in his last six starts (dating back to May 7) due to Oakland's offense being shut out by Logan Webb. Stripling also failed to record a strikeout for the first time this season and finished the month of July with a 4.76 ERA and a 3:3 K:BB over two starts.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Ross Stripling: Picks up win in return
Rotowire
Stripling (2-9) picked up the win over the Angels on Thursday, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks over 5.2 innings while striking out three.
Stripling ran into trouble in the second inning after allowing four consecutive batters to reach base with one out. He would end up being tagged for five runs in the frame but recovered nicely, retiring 13 of the next 15 batters he faced as the Oakland offense roared back in an eventual 6-5 victory. The right-hander has surrendered at least four runs in each of his last three starts dating back to May 18, and Stripling had also lost each of his previous four starts prior to Thursday's win.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Ross Stripling: Activated ahead of start
Rotowire
The Athletics activated Stripling (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to start against the Angels on Thursday.
Stripling will rejoin the rotation Thursday in Anaheim after missing two months with a flexor strain. He had a maximum pitch count of 56 in his three rehab outings, so the veteran right-hander will be limited from a workload standpoint versus the Halos.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Ross Stripling: Returning from IL to start Thursday
Rotowire
Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said Stripling (elbow) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Thursday's game in Anaheim, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Stripling has been sidelined since late May with a flexor strain but is ready to rejoin the big club after making three rehab starts. The veteran right-hander had a maximum pitch count of 56 across the three outings, so he'll probably be a bit limited from a workload perspective against the Angels.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Ross Stripling: Set for bullpen session
Rotowire
Stripling (elbow) will throw a bullpen session Monday or Tuesday, Janie McCauley of the Associated Press reports.
The right-hander completed five innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday, building up to 52 pitches. Stripling has already made three rehab starts but may need one more appearance to build up his pitch count before he returns from the 15-day injured list and slides back into the Oakland rotation.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Ross Stripling: Works five innings in rehab start
Rotowire
Stripling (elbow) gave up two earned runs on eight hits and no walks over five innings in his rehab start Friday with Triple-A Las Vegas. He didn't strike out a batter.
Stripling worked efficiently in the third start of his rehab assignment, needing just 52 pitches (37 strikes) to record 15 outs. Unless Stripling padded his pitch count in a bullpen session after exiting Friday's game, the Athletics will likely want to see Stripling reach around 70 pitches in another rehab start before bringing him back from the 15-day injured list. Stripling has been on the shelf since May 25 with a right elbow flexor strain.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Ross Stripling: Ups volume in second rehab start
Rotowire
Stripling (elbow) made a rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Las Vegas, allowing three earned runs on five hits and one walk over three innings. He struck out one.
Stripling was originally slated to remain with Single-A Stockton for his second rehab start after a rocky start to his rehab assignment Tuesday, but those plans were apparently altered in recent days. The right-hander worked up to 56 pitches in Sunday's start, locating 37 of his offerings for strikes. The three runs charged to Stripling came off a pair of singles and a sacrifice fly, so he did a serviceable job of limiting hard contact. Stripling could make at least one more rehab start coming out of the All-Star break in order to further build up his pitch count before returning from the 15-day injured list.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Ross Stripling: Staying in Single-A for next outing
Rotowire
Stripling (elbow) will remain with Single-A Stockton for his next rehab appearance, which will take place Sunday, MLB.com reports.
Stripling had been slated to work up to approximately 35 pitches in his rehab debut Tuesday, but he was pulled short of that mark after surrendering two runs over two-thirds of an inning. The right-hander had originally been projected to bump up to Triple-A Las Vegas for his second rehab start, but it seems the organization would like to give Stripling one more opportunity to work out some kinks at a lower level before moving his assignment to the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League with the Aviators. Stripling did emerge from Tuesday's 24-pitch start feeling healthy, so he presumably remains on track to return shortly after the All-Star break.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Ross Stripling: Inconsistent in rehab debut
Rotowire
Stripling (elbow) started Single-A Stockton's game against Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and one walk over two-thirds of an inning. He struck out one.
Stripling was slated to throw about 35 pitches, but he was pulled after 24 offerings. The right-hander allowed a solo home run and saw another runner cross the plate on a fielding error, making for an all-around eventful rehab debut. Stripling is still likely to make his next rehab start at Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday, unless the outcome of Tuesday's appearance alters that plan in some form.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Ross Stripling: Rehab assignment imminent
Rotowire
Stripling (elbow) will throw a bullpen session Saturday and then head out to Single-A Stockton to start a rehab assignment Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
Saturday's bullpen session is the final benchmark for Stripling to clear before a return to game action for the first time since May 24. Stripling is expected to start Stockton's game Tuesday and projected to throw up to 35 pitches. If the outing goes well, he'll be bumped up to Triple-A Las Vegas for his next rehab start or appearance Sunday, July 14.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Ross Stripling: Completes live BP session Wednesday
Rotowire
Stripling (elbow) pitched a live batting practice session before Wednesday's game against the Angels, the Associated Press reports.
Stripling's session seemed to have gone off without any issues, and he's now thrown a pair of bullpen sessions and Wednesday's batting practice in the last eight days. Manager Mark Kotsay previously indicated Stripling would likely begin a rehab assignment if he didn't experience any setbacks while facing live hitters, so the veteran right-hander could be heading to Triple-A Las Vegas to begin that phase of his recovery in the coming days.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Ross Stripling: Set to face hitters Wednesday
Rotowire
Stripling (elbow) is scheduled to face hitters in a live batting practice session Wednesday, MLB.com reports.
Stripling will move on to the next phase of his rehab program after he completed a two-inning simulated bullpen session Saturday without incident. The 34-year-old has been on the shelf since May 25 with a right elbow flexor strain and will likely need at least one or two rehab starts before he's cleared to return from the 15-day injured list, most likely after the All-Star break.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Ross Stripling: Throws bullpen Tuesday
Rotowire
Stripling (elbow) was able to complete a bullpen session before Tuesday's game against the Angels and is set to throw another Saturday, MLB.com reports.
The veteran right-hander came away feeling healthy from Tuesday's activity, and he's expected to throw 30-35 pitches in his session Saturday. Assuming that bullpen also goes off without a hitch, Stripling could be deemed ready to face hitters at some point during the subsequent week.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Ross Stripling: Set for bullpen session
Rotowire
Stripling (elbow) will throw a bullpen session in Oakland next Tuesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Stripling has already held catch sessions where he's thrown from 105 feet and the bullpen session will mark the next step in his recovery from a strained right elbow. The 34-year-old will likely toss at least one more bullpen session before embarking on some sort of rehab assignment prior to being activated from the 15-day injured list.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Ross Stripling: Throwing from 105 feet
Rotowire
Stripling (elbow), who recently started a throwing program, is already up to a distance of 105 feet in his catch sessions, the Associated Press reports.
The veteran right-hander appears to be making some solid progress, but manager Mark Kotsay still doesn't have a timetable for Stripling to throw a bullpen session or get back on a mound. Therefore, Stripling's IL stint could conceivably last through the All-Star break, although there still appears to be a chance he'll return prior to that point even when factoring in a rehab assignment.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Ross Stripling: Set to begin throwing program
Rotowire
Stripling (elbow) is set to begin a throwing program Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
Stripling has been shut down from throwing since May 29, so this is certainly noteworthy news. The veteran right-hander will gradually up his throwing distance until he's deemed healthy enough to progress to throwing off a mound. Given the deliberate pace of his recovery, Stripling may not be a candidate for activation before the end of June.
