MLB
After last night I’m sure a lot of people are asking, who is Ross Stripling? As you know by now Stripling is a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers who had a no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants last night for 7 1/3rd innings, but was removed from the game because he was on a pitch count. Stripling is 26 years old and played college baseball at Texas A&M. He was originally drafted in the 9th round of 2011 amateur draft by the Colorado Rockies. Stripling didn’t sign with the Rockies and after spending another season in college the Dodgers selected him in the 5th round of the 2012 amateur draft. Stripling is a right handed pitcher who has spent the last 3 seasons working his way through the Dodgers minor league system. Stripling has made 48 minor league starts and has appeared in 55 minor league games before this season. His minor league record was 12-10 with an ERA of 2.83 over 235 1/3rd innings. He had 1 complete game in the minors and also recorded 1 save. The Dodgers have had their share of injuries to starting pitchers and they where looking for a 5th starter to open the season with. Stripling was able to land that 5th starter spot with his spring training performances. Overall this spring Stripling made just 1 start, but appeared in 4 games covering 11 innings overall this spring. Stripling was 1-1 with a 4.09 ERA but did average a strikeout an inning during spring training. The Dodgers saw enough in Stripling to give him the 5th starters job and for 7 1/3rd innings last night it paid off. While it was a great outing for Stripling sadly he ended up with a no decision and the Dodgers ended up with a loss in extra innings last night. Stripling’s official line was 7 1/3 rd innings 0 hits, 1 run allowed, 4 walks and 4 strikeouts. The Dodgers gave Stripling a 2-run lead in the 5th inning as A,J, Ellis and Corey Seager each singled in the inning to drive in runs. After Stripling walked Angel Pagan Dodgers manager Dave Roberts went to the bullpen for Chris Hatcher. The first Giants batter Hatcher faced was catcher Trevor Brown who greeted him with a 2-run home run to tie the game at 2-2. The game stayed tied at 2 into the bottom of the 10th inning. Joe Blanton came out of the Dodgers bullpen to pitch the 10th inning. Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford was the first batter Blanton faced and Crawford hit the 2nd pitch he saw over the left field fence for a walk off home run. Sadly Stripling’s great outing went for nothing as the Giants ended up taking Game 1 of the series 3-2 in 10 innings. The teams meet again on Saturday and it will be it will be Clayton Kershaw against Madison Bumgarner in their first match up of 2016. The ace lefties are each 1-0 in 2016 and matched up four times in 2015. This will be the eighth overall meeting between them.
The Chicago Cubs lost their first game of the 2016 season last night 3-2 to the Arizona Diamondbacks, but really the first loss this season for the Cubs happen before the game started when it was announced that outfielder Kyle Schwarber will miss the entire 2016 season with a knee injury. Schwarber collided with centerfielder Dexter Fowler in Thursday night 14-6 victory as they where going for a fly ball in the left centerfield gap. Schwarber had to be carted off the field and an MRI showed that Schwarber suffered full tears to the ACL and LCL in his left knee. Schwarber also suffered a severely sprained ankle in the collision with Fowler. Schwarber is expected to have surgery in one to three weeks and will remain at the Cubs’ spring training facility in Mesa, Arizona, until he is ready to travel back to Chicago. The Cubs hope that Schwarber can return for spring training next year, but with damage to two ligaments, they aren’t sure of the timetable. Munenori Kawasaki will be recalled from Triple-A Iowa to take Schwarber’s roster spot.Jorge Soler played left field in Friday nights game at Arizona. The Cubs have some depth and you may see Tommy La Stella get some playing time in Schwarber’s place, with third baseman Kris Bryant being another option in left field. The Cubs also have Matt Szczur to insert into the outfield rotation. Schwarber was a catcher by trade and is still in the learning process in leftfield. While the injury will take playing time away from Schwarber he’ll have the opportunity to watch and learn the position this season. If he’s able to return for the start of the 2017 season he may end up being a better defensive outfielder.
GOLF
We don’t talk a lot of golf on the Sports Time Radio podcasts, but this is Master’s weekend and I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least look at who’s leading the tournament going into today’s round. Defending champion Jordan Spieth is leading the tournament at -4 under par. Spieth has tied Arnold Palmer’s record by being in the lead at the Master’s for 6 consecutive rounds. Rory McIlroy is one shot behind at -3 under. Danny Lee and Scott Piercy are tied at -2 under and then there are three golfers; Brandt Snedeker, Soren Kjeldsen and Hideki Matsuyama tied at -1 under. Spieth is trying to be the first golfer to repeat as Master’s champion since Tiger Woods won back to back in 2001 and 2002.
NASCAR
The NASCAR car Sprint cup series takes the track tonight (Saturday) at Texas Motor Speedway for the Duck Commander 500. Carl Edwards took the pole with a s qualifying speed of 194.609. Joey Logano is starting 2nd with Martin Truex Jr. 3rd. Chase Elliot (4th) and Rickey Stenhouse Jr. (5th) round out the Top 5. None of these five drivers have a win; so they’ll be looking to use there good starting spot to get that win and lock themselves into the Chase. Chris Olmstead from BeyondtheFlag.com will join the Sports Time Radio podcast on Sunday morning as usual, but instead of his normal preview he’ll do a review of tonight’s race. As I’m writing this I don’t have Chris’ picks for his three drivers to look for in victory lane. If I can get them before the race starts maybe I’ll be able to tweet them out and let you know who he’s going with.
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