New-Look Stripling Solidifies Rotation

Ross Stripling walked back towards the mound staring down at the rubber. As Jose Ramirez swung his bat in the box, Stripling readjusted a grip and began his delivery.

Showcasing recent adjustments — tucking his glove to his jersey, and facing the plate — Stripling forced a fastball onto the outside corner of the strike zone to induce a lazy grounder. It was just Stripling’s 11th pitch of the opening inning, and the out secured his ninth straight frame without a run against. In Toronto’s fourth consecutive seven-inning game, Stripling provided the Blue Jays with five valuable innings and further reason to keep him in long-term rotation plans.

“Today was a good sign," Stripling said. "I didn’t have the full arsenal working … but my timing is better and I was more deceptive.”

After beginning 2021 with a seven ERA, Stripling returned to the high fastball, diving curveball combo he has relied upon in his six-year career. Stripling's adjustments prior to his last start allowed him to add more deception to his delivery and dissuade pitch tipping. On Sunday, Cleveland hitters certainly didn't know what was coming.

“It’s good to see instant success from such a big change,” Stripling said.

He touched 94 on the fastball, allowed just five hard hit balls, and needed only 32 pitches to get through the first three innings.

Coming back out for the fifth inning having used just 50 bullets, Stripling allowed his first run against via a deep Josh Naylor liner. The Blue Jays righty has been plagued by big innings in 2021, allowing five multi-run frames in his first six starts. But Sunday he refocused after Naylor's solo shot, notching a first pitch strike to the next three Cleveland batters and inducing two grounders and a strikeout.

After beating Austin Hedges with a high fastball to end the fifth, Reese McGuire fired the ball down to first base as Stripling trotted off the mound, unfazed. He was met in the dugout by a Charlie Montoyo handshake, signaling the end of his day.

Stripling's start ended after just 67 pitches, but he lined up his team for a victory. If the Blue Jays needed more length the righty could've provided it, but if the new-look Stripling can just give Toronto a chance to win games that's all they need. And since he's come to the Blue Jays, that's a new feeling for Stripling.

“Full 180," Stripling said. "From probably the lowest point in my career to now feeling confident moving forward, and feeling like I can attack hitters and get through a lineup multiple times."

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