Pitcher Ross Stripling, aka 'Chicken Strip,' is retiring after nearly a decade in the majors
Ross Stripling is calling it a careerMAY 5 • Associated Press
ROSS STRIPLING
Retires from professional baseball Stripling announced his retirement from professional baseball on his X account Monday.
Impact Stripling was with the Royals in spring training before asking for and being granted his release after being informed he wasn't going to make the Opening Day roster. The 35-year-old was not able to land a contract elsewhere and has decided to call it a career. Stripling posted a 4.17 ERA over parts of nine major-league seasons, making one All-Star team in 2018.
MAY 5 • ROTOWIRE
Let go by KC The Royals granted Stripling's request to be released Sunday.
Impact The right-hander signed a minor-league contract a month ago but surrendered 14 earned runs over eight innings during spring training. Stripling had a 6.01 ERA in 22 appearances with the A's last year and will likely have to settle for another minor-league deal elsewhere.
MARCH 23 • ROTOWIRE
Inks MiLB deal with KC Stripling agreed to a minor-league contract with the Royals on Wednesday that includes an invitation to big-league spring training.
Impact Stripling has been a successful swingman at times throughout his career but had to settle for a minor-league deal after posting a 6.01 ERA across 85.1 innings with the Athletics last season. The veteran right-hander will compete for a place on the Opening Day roster but is likelier to begin the campaign at Triple-A Omaha.
FEBRUARY 19 • ROTOWIRE
Returns in relief Saturday Stripling fired a scoreless sixth inning in an extra-inning loss to the Mariners on Saturday, issuing a walk.
Impact The veteran right-hander had been activated from the injured list Friday, and manager Mark Kotsay opted to have him return in a relief capacity. Stripling has struggled to a 2-11 record, 6.01 ERA and 1.54 WHIP across 22 appearances (14 starts) in his debut Athletics campaign, making him a dubious candidate for a return to Oakland after playing out the final year of a two-year deal this season.
SEPTEMBER 29, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Returns from injured list The Athletics reinstated Stripling (back) from the 15-day injured list Friday.
Impact Stripling landed on the injured list Sept. 11 due to a lower-back strain and began facing live hitters again as recently as Tuesday. Now that he's healthy, he'll presumably take on a low-leverage role out of the bullpen for the final three games of the season. Meanwhile, Brady Basso will head to the Arizona Complex League in order to free up a roster spot.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Throws live batting practice Stripling (back) completed a live batting practice session Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
Impact The veteran right-hander presumably got through the session without any issues, making it the third box he's checked off within the last week after also completing bullpen sessions Wednesday and Saturday. Assuming Stripling doesn't have any residual effects from Tuesday's activity in coming days, he remains a candidate to be activated at some point during the final series of the season that begins Friday against the Mariners at T-Mobile Park.
SEPTEMBER 25, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Another successful bullpen Saturday Stripling (back) emerged from Saturday's bullpen session healthy and is slated to face live hitters Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
Impact The right-hander has now completed two bullpen sessions over a five-day span without any apparent setbacks, paving the way for the live batting practice Tuesday. If that step is similarly successful, Stripling is expected to be activated at some point before Friday's start of the final series of the season against the Mariners in Seattle.
SEPTEMBER 23, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Next bullpen session set Stripling (back) came out of his bullpen session Wednesday feeling good and will thrown another one Saturday, MLB.com reports.
Impact The veteran right-hander was able to throw mostly fastballs while occasionally mixing in each of his offspeed pitches during Wednesday's session, which consisted of 25 pitches overall. If all goes just as smoothly with Saturday's activity, Stripling remains hopeful of being activated when first eligible Tuesday.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Bullpen session on tap Stripling (back) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday and another several days after, MLB.com reports.
Impact The veteran right-hander has been on the injured list since last Tuesday with a lower-back strain, and Wednesday would mark the first time he'll attempt to do any throwing since that point. If all goes well with the session, Stripling is slated to repeat the process at some point after the Athletics resume a homestand Friday against the Yankees. Despite the recent developments, a return for Stripling before the end of the regular season isn't a certainty in the view of manager Mark Kotsay, per the Associated Press.
SEPTEMBER 17, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Goes on IL with lower-back strain The Athletics placed Stripling on the 15-day injured list Wednesday, retroactive to Sept. 9, with a lower-back strain.
Impact Stripling was roughed up for 10 runs over his last two relief appearances but might have been pitching compromised. He will be eligible to return during the last week of the season, but it's not clear whether he will make it back.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Impressive in long relief Friday Stripling fired 4.1 scoreless relief innings in a loss to the Brewers on Friday, allowing two hits and two walks while recording four strikeouts. He did not factor into the decisio...
Impact Starter J.P. Sears was atypically ineffective and chased after 3.2 innings and 90 pitches, so Stripling was called on to deploy his multi-inning capabilities and ideally spare some of his bullpen mates. The one-time starter came through as hoped, getting 13 outs on 68 pitches to serve as a bridge to the ninth inning. The outing was only Stripling's second since officially being moved to the bullpen, with his first relief appearance having come nine days prior against the Mets.
AUGUST 24, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Alonso ends slump with 4 hits as Mets beat A's 9-1 to stop 4-game losing streak
Pete Alonso had four hits that included a fourth-inning homer and three RBIs to lead the New York Mets over the Oakland Athletics 9-1, stopping a four-game losing streakAUGUST 15, 2024 • Associated Press
Moved to bullpen Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said Tuesday that Stripling is being shifted to a long-relief role, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Impact Stripling has a 5.72 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 40:16 K:BB across 72.1 innings (14 starts) this season, and he'll be removed from the rotation in favor of Oakland's younger arms. He didn't have much fantasy utility as a starter given the lack of effectiveness, and that's not likely to change in a long-relief role.
AUGUST 13, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Mets enter matchup with the Athletics on losing streak
The New York Mets will try to break a three-game skid when they take on the Oakland AthleticsAUGUST 13, 2024 • Associated Press
Dealt 11th loss Stripling (2-11) allowed four runs on five hits and a walk while striking out two in 5.1 innings during Tuesday's loss to the White Sox.
Impact Stripling kept the White Sox off the board through three innings before Andrew Benintendi got a hold of one for a two-run blast in the fourth. That was enough to put Stripling in line for the loss, as the Athletics only mustered up a single run on the night. Stripling's outing carried into the sixth, but he was only able to record one out before being pulled after giving up a walk and two singles, which led to another run. He was charged with a fourth run before the inning concluded. Stripling's 11 losses are tied for third most in baseball and his 5.72 ERA would be the second worst mark among all qualified pitchers if he had enough innings under his belt. The 34-year-old will look for a bounce back outing his next time out against the Mets next week.
AUGUST 7, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
White Sox end AL record-tying losing streak at 21 games with a 5-1 victory over the Athletics
Andrew Benintendi hit a two-run homer and the Chicago White Sox snapped their American League record-tying losing streak at 21 game, beating the Oakland Athletics 5-1AUGUST 7, 2024 • Associated Press
White Sox take 21-game losing streak into matchup against the Athletics
The Chicago White Sox look to end their 21-game losing streak with a win against the Oakland AthleticsAUGUST 6, 2024 • Associated Press
Takes tough loss Stripling took the loss against the Giants on Wednesday, allowing one run on four hits and one walk over 5.2 innings. He did not record a strikeout.
Impact Stripling pitched well throughout the contest, allowing the leadoff man to reach just one time over his 5.2 innings of work while surrendering only two-extra base hits. The only run he allowed on the night came on a sacrifice fly in the fifth. However, the veteran right-hander would still go on to take his fifth loss in his last six starts (dating back to May 7) due to Oakland's offense being shut out by Logan Webb. Stripling also failed to record a strikeout for the first time this season and finished the month of July with a 4.76 ERA and a 3:3 K:BB (over two starts).
AUGUST 1, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Logan Webb pitches 2nd career shutout in the Giants' 1-0 victory over the Athletics
Logan Webb pitched his second career shutout, leading the San Francisco Giants to a 1-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday night in a speedy 1 hour, 55 minutesAUGUST 1, 2024 • Associated Press
Athletics look to sweep 2-game series against the Giants
The Oakland Athletics will attempt to sweep a two-game series against the San Francisco Giants on WednesdayJULY 31, 2024 • Associated Press
Picks up win in return Stripling (2-9) picked up the win over the Angels on Thursday, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks over 5.2 innings while striking out three.
Impact Stripling ran into trouble in the second inning after allowing four consecutive batters to reach with one out. He would end up being tagged for five runs in the frame but recovered nicely, retiring 13 of the next 15 batters he faced in the contest. Stripling also appeared to avoid any setbacks in his first start since returning from the injured list, though he's now surrendered at least four runs in each of his last three starts (dating back to May 18). Stripling had also lost each of his previous four starts prior to Thursday's win.
JULY 26, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Butler, Rooker continue power surge in July as Athletics rally for 6-5 victory over Angels
Lawrence Butler and Brent Rooker hit home runs and the Oakland Athletics continued their power surge with a 6-5 victory over the Los Angeles AngelsJULY 26, 2024 • Associated Press
Activated ahead of start The Athletics activated Stripling (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Impact Stripling will rejoin the rotation Thursday in Anaheim after missing two months with a flexor strain. He had a maximum pitch count of 56 in his three rehab outings, so the veteran right-hander will be limited from a workload standpoint versus the Angels.
JULY 25, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Angels host the Athletics, aim to continue home win streak
The Los Angeles Angels host the Oakland Athletics aiming to continue a three-game home winning streakJULY 25, 2024 • Associated Press
