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Dodgers send Ross Stripling to minors, call up Mike Bolsinger

Ross Stripling will be in the bullpen to help the Dodgers' depleted staff.
(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
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To hear the Dodgers tell it, a 17-inning game Sunday provided a convenient vehicle to limit the innings of rookie pitcher Ross Stripling.

After throwing three innings in emergency relief Sunday, Stripling is unavailable to make his start Tuesday. The team called up Mike Bolsinger to take Stripling’s place in the rotation.

Stripling was optioned to triple-A Oklahoma City, where he will pitch in shorter bursts — three or four innings per outing at the start — to keep him fresh for the end of the season.

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“All along, we were trying to figure out that some point at the end of May — once he made our roster — to figure out how we could curtail some innings in the middle of the season,” Manager Dave Roberts said before Monday’s game against Cincinnati. “And then be able to use him in some capacity, either out of the ‘pen or as a starter in August or September — or whenever that time may be.”

Stripling underwent elbow ligament replacement surgery in 2014. He pitched 711/3 innings in the minors last season. He has already thrown 452/3 in 2016.

The Dodgers also recalled left-handed reliever Luis Avilan, and placed Chin-Hui Tsao on the minor league disabled list because of soreness in his triceps. Tsao reported soreness shortly before Sunday’s game started, which left the team with not enough time to make a roster move.

Roberts would not commit to Bolsinger, who gave up three runs in 41/3 innings in a spot start last week, beyond Tuesday. Hyun-Jin Ryu is scheduled to make his third rehabilitation start for Oklahoma City on Wednesday, with Julio Urias, the organization’s top prospect, starting a day later.

Team officials told Stripling (2-3, 4.53 earned-run average) to concentrate on preparing his body and his mind to handle the rigors of facing a batting order three times in one game. Opposing batters hit .333 against him with a 1.022 on-base plus slugging percentage during the third time through the order.

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“I wouldn’t say I’m physically deteriorating by any means, but I’m just constantly losing it around the 75-pitch mark,” Stripling said. “So now it’s about getting stronger. Get on another shoulder program, like I was when I was rehabbing. Just make sure everything is as strong as it can be so there’s zero fatiguing in any of my starts.”

So he will learn to build stamina while working under restrictions. Stripling admitted the tasks sounded counterintuitive. But he will do what he is told.

“It stinks to be on an innings limit,” Stripling said. “But that’s where I am this year. I think at this time, the elbow, it feels great. But if throwing three innings gives me the ability to throw seven at the end of the year, then I’m all for that.”

andy.mccullough@latimes.com

Follow Andy McCullough on Twitter: @McCulloughTimes

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