Ross Stripling (SP, LAD) - Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 19% of leagues

ANALYSIS: The Dodgers seem to have outclassed themselves with “playing the 10-day DL” (sarcasm), as Rich Hill is set to miss a month with a blister issue, Clayton Kershaw is still working back from biceps tendinitis and Hyun-Jin Ryu tore his groin off the bone.  Anyway, the point is that starting pitcher Ross Stripling safely has a spot in the rotation. The young sapling is blossoming in 2018, posting a 3.26 ERA over four starts (19 1/3 IP) after abusing opponents to the tune of one earned allowed in 15 1/3 innings from the bullpen.

Most of the ugliness as a starter came in a spot start against the D-backs on April 30, though, as he has given up just three earned over his last three trips to the rubber (15 1/3 IP) with a 21-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio over that span. It is wise to trust the early 2.54 FIP/2.62 xFIP and beautiful 24.7% K-BB rate as a starter and getting in toward the ground floor here. A May 26 start against the Padres in Los Angeles is a good one for Stripling and he should be streamed in deeper leagues.