Giants' Ross Stripling: Exercises player option for 2024
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Stripling exercised his $12.5 million player option with the Giants on Friday, Danny Emerman of KNBR.com reports.
Stripling is now officially set to return to San Francisco for the 2024 season. The 33-year-old right-hander likely would have struggled to find an AAV higher than $12.5 million in free agency after registering a disappointing 5.36 ERA over 11 starts and 11 relief appearances (89 innings) during the 2023 campaign.
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Giants' Ross Stripling: Struggles in bulk role
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Stripling allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out four over four innings in Saturday's 7-0 loss to the Dodgers. He did not factor in the decision.
The Giants were already down 3-0 by the time Stripling entered the game. He didn't do anything to keep it close, allowing a pair of runs in both the fifth and eighth innings. This was Stripling's second appearance since he returned from a back injury, and he's yielded seven runs over 7.1 innings in those games. He's at a 5.57 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 68:16 K:BB through 85.2 innings over 21 outings (11 starts) this season.
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Giants' Ross Stripling: Reinstated from injured list
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Stripling (back) was reinstated from the injured list Friday, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Stripling has been sidelined since Aug. 19 with a mid-back strain but threw 50 pitches in a live batting practice session Monday. His exact role hasn't been confirmed, but Alex Wood had his start pushed to Tuesday, while Kyle Harrison was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Friday. That combination suggests Stripling could be in line to start Saturday during a doubleheader against the Rockies.
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Giants' Ross Stripling: Fires 50 pitches in live BP
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Stripling (back) threw 50 pitches in a live bullpen session Monday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Stripling hasn't been activated from the 15-day injured list just yet, though the transaction could be made sometime over the next few days. The veteran right-hander also voiced his frustration about his performance during the 2023 campaign and indicated that he's fully committed to sticking with the Giants next season, even though his contract contains a player option for 2024 that would allow him to pursue free agency.
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Giants' Ross Stripling: Makes one-inning rehab start
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Stripling (back) gave up one run on two hits while striking out a batter in a one-inning rehab start Friday with Triple-A Sacramento.
Before landing on the injured list in mid-August with a mid-back strain, Stripling had covered at least four innings in each of his seven outings with the Giants following the All-Star break. With that in mind, his light workload Friday was somewhat surprising, and it could be an indication that the Giants may not intend to bring him back as a traditional starter. San Francisco has been getting by with four regular starters of late in Logan Webb, Alex Cobb, Kyle Harrison and Tristan Beck while deploying Sean Manaea as a primary pitcher out of the bullpen in lieu of a fifth starter.
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Giants' Ross Stripling: Ready for rehab assignment
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Stripling (back) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento on Friday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Stripling last pitched Aug. 16, so he isn't likely to need a lengthy rehab assignment. Assuming things go well, he could be activated in early September and is likely to immediately slot back into the rotation.
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Giants' Ross Stripling: Tosses side session
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Stripling (back) completed a bullpen session Monday without issue, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
This is a positive sign for Stripling, who was placed on the 15-day injured list Aug. 19 due to a mid-back strain. The team will likely re-evaluate the right-hander Tuesday morning to determine the next step in his rehab.
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Giants' Ross Stripling: Lands on injured list
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The Giants placed Stripling on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a mid-back strain, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Stripling had his back evaluated before Friday's game after experiencing some soreness. He will be held out for at least the next two weeks while Sean Hjelle comes up from Triple-A Sacramento to fill Stripling's spot on the roster.
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Giants' Ross Stripling: Guts out six innings
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Stripling allowed five runs on 11 hits and struck out three without walking a batter over six innings in a no-decision versus the Rays on Wednesday.
Ryan Walker gave up an unearned run in the first inning and the Giants never led the contest, sparing Stripling from taking the loss. It certainly wasn't a good outing for Stripling, who had given up a combined four runs over 14.2 innings across his last three outings. The right-hander is now at a 5.29 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 61:11 K:BB through 78.1 innings over 19 appearances (11 starts). The Giants seem to prefer having Stripling following an opener, something he'll likely do again next week on the road in Philadelphia.
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Giants' Ross Stripling: Likely to follow behind opener
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Stripling is expected to serve as a bulk reliever behind opening pitcher Ryan Walker in Wednesday's game against the Rays, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
The Giants have been relying on just two full-time starters (Logan Webb and Alex Cobb) of late, but Stripling still appears to be a de facto member of the rotation. Stripling's most recent appearance came out of the bullpen Friday, when he tossed five innings and gave up two runs en route to taking a loss against Texas. Assuming he's called upon to work behind Walker, Stripling will be the Giants pitcher most likely to factor into the decision Wednesday.
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Giants' Ross Stripling: Takes loss as bulk reliever
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Stripling (0-5) allowed two runs on five hits and struck out three without walking a batter over five innings Friday, taking the loss versus the Rangers.
The Giants put just four men on base and were lucky to scrape together one run. Stripling was also solid, but he gave up solo home runs to Nathaniel Lowe and Mitch Garver on back-to-back pitches in the sixth inning. While the right-hander has given up just 10 runs over his last 26.2 innings, he's taken three losses in five outings over that span. He has a 5.10 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 58:11 K:BB in 72.1 innings over 18 appearances (11 starts) this season. Stripling is tentatively lined up for a home outing versus the Rays next week.
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Giants' Ross Stripling: Set up for bulk relief
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Stripling is not among the Giants' listed starters for their three-game weekend series against the Rangers but is expected to work in bulk relief Friday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
The Giants haven't specified their plans for Stripling, but with lefty Scott Alexander slated to open Friday's contest, the 32-year-old right-hander will presumably slot in behind him to cover multiple innings out of the bullpen. After signing a two-year, $25 million contract with San Francisco over the winter, Stripling has struggled to a 5.21 ERA through 67.1 innings (11 starts, six relief appearances) this season.
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Giants' Ross Stripling: Fares well in no-decision
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Stripling allowed a run on three hits and struck out seven without walking a batter over 5.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Athletics on Saturday.
Stripling has often worked behind an opener this season, but he was on the mound from the start Saturday. Over his last eight appearances, he has not allowed more than three runs in any outing, pitching to a solid 3.34 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 29:1 K:BB over 35 innings in that span. It's a vast improvement on his season-long marks (5.21 ERA, 1.28 WHIP), though that control is almost certainly too good to last in the long run. He's tentatively projected to make his next appearance at home versus the Rangers.
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Giants' Ross Stripling: Steady in bulk relief
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Stripling allowed a run on four hits and struck out three without walking a batter over 4.1 innings Sunday versus the Red Sox. He did not factor in the decision.
Stripling turned in a solid bulk-relief outing after starting his last five outings. He threw 63 pitches (41 strikes) after taking over for opener Scott Alexander with two outs in the second inning. Stripling is now at a 5.52 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 48:11 K:BB through 62 innings over 16 appearances (10 starts) this season. The right-hander has filled a swingman role for much of the year, so it's unclear if he'll start or work behind an opener again in his next outing, tentatively scheduled to be on the road in Oakland next weekend.
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Giants' Ross Stripling: Falls to 0-4
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Stripling (0-4) took the loss Monday, allowing three runs on 10 hits over six innings in a 5-1 loss to Detroit. He struck out three.
It certainly could've been worse for Stripling -- he managed to hold Detroit to three runs despite surrendering 10 hits, recording his second straight quality start. He'd still wind up with a loss, however, as the Giants failed to generate any run support against Tarik Skubal. Since moving back into the rotation earlier this month, the 33-year-old Stripling has a 4.03 ERA with a solid 1.07 WHIP in five starts (22.1 innings). Overall, his ERA sits at 5.77 with a 1.37 WHIP and 45:11 K:BB across 57.2 innings this season.
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Giants' Ross Stripling: Takes loss despite quality start
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Stripling (0-3) took the loss against Cincinnati on Wednesday, allowing three runs on four hits and no walks while striking out two batters over six innings.
Stripling served up a three-run homer to Will Benson in the third inning that accounted for all of the runs against him. Though that was enough for Stripling to be tagged with the loss, this was mostly a positive outing for the veteran hurler. He tallied a season-high innings total -- prior to Wednesday, he hadn't gone more than five frames in any outing -- and worked up to 76 pitches, his most since May 7. Stripling has been eased back into action after missing over a month between late May and late June with a back injury, but he's been mostly effective despite the limitations since his return, posting a 3.72 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 16:1 K:BB over 19.1 frames covering five appearances.
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Giants' Ross Stripling: Almost lasts five innings
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Stripling did not factor into the decision Friday, allowing two runs on five hits over 4.2 innings against the Pirates. He struck out six and did not issue a walk.
Stripling worked into the fifth inning, deeper than he's gone into a contest since May 7. The right-hander missed six weeks this season with a back injury and is just now building up to something resembling a normal starter's workload, tossing 72 pitches Friday. He's unlikely to face hitters a third time in any outing, but Stripling seems to be trending in the right direction. He's allowed a total of five earned runs with 14 strikeouts against one walk in 13.1 innings since his return.
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Giants' Ross Stripling: Throws two innings
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Stripling issued one walk over two shutout frames in Sunday's loss to the Mets. He struck out two and did not factor in the decision.
Stripling has thrown five total innings in two appearances since returning from a trip to the injured list. He's given up just one run during that span, but his season ERA still sits at 6.51 across 37.1 innings. It's unclear if the Giants plan to move him back into a traditional starting role for his next outing.
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Giants' Ross Stripling: Starting Sunday
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Stripling will start Sunday's game against the Mets, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.
Stripling was activated from the injured list June 25 and has since pitched once in relief. He worked three innings during that appearance, so he shouldn't have a significant workload restriction.
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Giants' Ross Stripling: Activated from injured list
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Stripling (back) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list Sunday.
The right-hander will return from the injured list earlier than expected while Luke Jackson (back) replaces him on the shelf. Stripling made his last rehab start Thursday in the lower minors and struck out 10 while giving up two runs over four innings. The 33-year-old could be reinserted into San Francisco's rotation during the upcoming three-game set in Toronto that begins Tuesday, as Sean Manaea has pitched just one frame in each of his past two outings.
