'Numbers guy' Stripling adjusts to new team

Ross Stripling isn’t just the new guy in the Blue Jays' clubhouse after coming over in a Trade Deadline deal from the Dodgers, he’s also one of the most interesting.

A “numbers guy” who also does work as a financial advisor after studying finance at Texas A&M University, Stripling also hosts the "Big Swing Podcast," which Toronto's Cavan Biggio appeared on in July.

Stripling and Biggio know each other well from training at the same offseason facility in Texas, and the right-hander saw some other familiar faces when he joined the Blue Jays, including former Dodgers teammate Hyun Jin Ryu. Stripling is getting comfortable quickly and embracing the change, and as the only one of Toronto's Deadline additions who isn’t on an expiring contract, he’ll be sticking around, too.

After finding success swinging between the rotation and bullpen in Los Angeles, Stripling has every opportunity to grab a more permanent rotation spot with the Blue Jays in 2020 and beyond. He’s posted an uncharacteristic 5.61 ERA through seven starts, allowing 12 home runs in 33 2/3 innings, but Stripling believes he knows the reason for his struggles.

“I’m taking unprecedented damage against fastballs,” Stripling said. “If I throw a mistake fastball, it’s been a home run every time. It’s never just a double in the gap or pulled foul or a single through the six-hole, it’s a homer every time I throw a mistake fastball. So it’s really about buckling down on where I locate those fastballs.”

Stripling is right, too. According to Statcast, opposing hitters have a .333 average and a .912 slugging percentage -- including 11 of his 12 home runs allowed -- against his four-seam fastball.

Stripling has thrown his four-seamer 44.6 percent of the time, but he’s trying to create an even balance between that and his curveball, slider and changeup. His changeup is a pitch he worked on over the offseason, even throwing it to Biggio for advice. But something clicked in Spring Training, when the Dodgers had Stripling spread the fingers on his grip.

Instead of trying to get fine or precise with the pitch, Stripling has found success by trying to be more natural and simply throwing it. When he tries to throw the pitch hard, he’s gotten the best action on it, which should be a major factor going forward.

Given his background, Stripling is a pitcher who dives into analytics, but he’s learned what’s right for him. It's a balance he struck with the Dodgers eventually, and one he’ll look to continue with the Blue Jays. Instead of knowing everything, the sweet spot for Stripling is knowing which information will best help him on the mound.

“I think that being a numbers guy lets you digest a little bit more without being overwhelmed,” Stripling said. “When I was young, I really thought I was a numbers guy, and I wanted to know everything. I wanted to know what he hit against 2-1 sliders, 1-2 curveballs, 0-2 fastballs up, and I was really bogged down on the mound. That’s just too much.”

Biggio the man in motion
One day after starting in center field, Biggio was in right field for Thursday's series opener in Boston. Instead of moving everyone around and prioritizing flexibility from each individual player, Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo is starting to prioritize keeping more players in their set positions, particularly Teoscar Hernández and Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Biggio got the nod in right with Hernández at designated hitter on Thursday, but using Biggio as a super-utility player all over the field is taking priority over more widespread changes.

“I’m comfortable with that guy anywhere,” Montoyo said. “Before I do it, I talk to [first-base coach] Mark Budzinski about it and make sure he’s taking enough fly balls in the outfield for me to be comfortable. Then, I talk to Biggio.”

Jansen earns Roberto Clemente Award nomination
Catcher Danny Jansen is the Blue Jays’ 2020 nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, which recognizes a player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.

“I’m honored to have been nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award," Jansen said in a statement. "During my time with the Blue Jays, I have had the opportunity to meet fans from coast to coast to coast and am grateful to have the platform to give back to the communities that cheer us on.

"On visits to a local inner-city school and Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, as well as traveling the country on winter tours in Calgary and Halifax, I’ve met some incredibly special kids and fans along the way. They are as much an inspiration to us as we are to them. I look forward to continuing to be a presence in communities throughout Canada, along with the Blue Jays and Jays Care Foundation.”