Stripling wants to be part of the Dodgers' starting rotation and is on track to be able to pitch six innings by the start of the season, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

With David Price opting out of the season Sunday, the Dodgers have a sudden need for a starter to round out the rotation. There are other candidates for the role -- namely, Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin -- but Stripling would appear to be the frontrunner given his experience and moderate success as a starter. The right-hander has opened 52 games for Los Angeles in his four-year career, registering a 3.71 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 250:55 K:BB over 257 innings.

Stripling could return to the Dodgers' rotation this season after David Price elected to opt out of playing due to the coronavirus, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Stripling would seem to be battling with Dustin May for the Dodgers' fifth starter job, though the team will likely need to have at least six pitchers make a handful of starts at some point this season. Stripling made 15 starts and 17 relief appearances for the Dodgers last season, posting a strong 3.47 ERA on the back of a 25.1 percent strikeout rate and a 5.4 percent walk rate.

Stripling has been throwing off a mound twice a week, playing catch every day and lifting weights regularly, Andy McCullough and Pedro Moura of The Athletic report.

EDGE Analysis

Stripling indicated that he is staying in shape during the MLB hiatus, suggesting that he'd be "as ready as I can be" if spring training were to resume immediately. The right-hander isn't expected to be in the Dodgers' starting rotation at the start of a potential 2020 season, but he is nonetheless an important component on the team's versatile pitching staff.

Stripling was not among the Dodgers' starters that manager Dave Roberts named Monday, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Stripling has served as a swingman over most of his time in the majors, and he'll begin the 2020 campaign out of the Dodgers' bullpen, with Julio Urias and Alex Wood claiming the fourth and fifth spots in the rotation, respectively. The 30-year-old has made three starts this spring, recording a 1.50 ERA and 1.00 WHIP over six innings.

Stripling has been experimenting with a new grip on his changeup, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The results of the experiment have thus far been encouraging enough to prompt the Dodgers to set up special video to better examine the offering. Per Statcast, Stripling threw a changeup 14.7 percent of the time in 2019, with opposing hitters registering a .269 average against the pitch.

Stripling's reported trade from the Dodgers to the Angels was shut down on Sunday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Stripling's move across town was reliant on the original Mookie Betts trade to Los Angeles which fell through unexpectedly. Angels' owner Arte Moreno expressed his dissatisfaction during the delayed process, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network. With the Dodgers' latest addition of David Price, it seems likely that they will continue trying to move Stripling before spring training arrives.

Stripling has been sent along with Joc Pederson from the Dodgers to the Angels, with Luis Rengifo and other undisclosed players heading the other way, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Stripling is a fairly expendable piece for a deep Dodgers pitching staff that lost Hyun-Jin Ryu (free agency) and Kenta Maeda (traded to Twins) this winter but gained David Price, Alex Wood and Jimmy Nelson. The latter two pitchers represent depth options more than anything else, but both were seemingly ahead of Stripling in the pecking order. Stripling should have a more legitimate opportunity to compete for a starting role with the Angels, and at the very least, he'll offer a substantial upgrade over their existing swingman types. Over his 52 career MLB starts, Stripling has accrued a 3.71 ERA and 18.4 K-BB percentage while limiting opposing hitters to a .308 wOBA.

Stripling agreed to a one-year, $2.1 million deal with the Dodgers on Friday, avoiding arbitration, ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

This was Stripling's first of three arbitration years before he hits the open market after the 2022 season. He is one of the best swingmen in the game and has a 3.51 career ERA in 387 innings.

Stripling will be available out of the bullpen for Game 4 of the NLDS against the Nationals on Monday and is expected to follow Rich Hill, Pedro Moura of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

According to Moura, Stripling has been dealing with a stye in his right eye, but he was able to insert his contacts and has been cleared to pitch. With Hill not expected to throw more than four innings, Stripling figures to eat up at least a few frames in Game 4.

Stripling gave up three runs on four hits and one walk while striking out seven in a no-decision against the Padres on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Stripling ran into trouble early, allowing four baserunners and three runs in the first inning, but he recovered to only give up one hit in his next two frames. Stripling will finish the regular season with a 4-4 record and a 3.51 ERA with 92 strikeouts through 89.2 innings.