Stripling Heads to his First World Series

Continuing his strong second season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, former Texas A&M right-handed pitcher Ross Stripling begins action in his first World Series Tuesday as Los Angeles hosts the Houston Astros at Dodger Stadium.

Stripling has been solid in the Dodgers' bullpen in 2017, logging a 3-5 record with a 3.75 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 74.1 innings. He owns a 1.18 WHIP in 49 appearances.

During the current postseason run, Stripling has made two appearances out of the bullpen with one strikeout in 1.0 inning of work.

With his first appearance, Stripling will join eight former Texas A&M players to play in the World Series, including Tyler Naquin, Michael Wacha, Chuck Knoblauch, Mark Thurmond, Doug Rau, Davey Johnson, Wally Moon and Rip Collins. Three Aggies have won a combined nine World Series titles, including Knoblauch (four), Johnson (three) and Moon (two).

Naquin is the most recent Aggie to appear in the World Series, playing in five games for the Cleveland Indians in 2016.

Wacha was 1-1 in two starts for the St. Louis Cardinals who lost to the Boston Red Sox in the 2013 World Series.

Knoblauch leads all Aggies with five World Series appearances and four titles. He won a crown with the Twins in 1991 and three consecutive championships with the Yankees from 1998-2000. He also lost a World Series with the Yankees in 2001.

Thurmond played for the 1984 edition of the San Diego Padres who lost to the Detroit Tigers in the World Series.

Johnson appeared in four World Series, winning the 1966 edition with the Dodgers and the '70 and '71 titles with the Baltimore Orioles. He lost the '69 World Series as a member of the Orioles. He also won the '86 World Series as the manager of the New York Mets.

Moon won world titles with the Dodgers in 1959 and '65.

Doug Rau was on the losing end of the World Series with the Dodgers in 1977 and '78.

Rip Collins was the first Aggie to appear in a World Series, as a member of the 1921 Yankees who lost to the New York Giants.

Last season, in his rookie campaign Stripling was 5-9 with a 3.96 ERA in 22 games, including 14 starts. The northpaw turned heads in his Major League debut on April 8, 2016 when he was relieved in the eighth inning while in the midst of a no-hitter.

Stripling, who had his trip to the majors sidetracked by Tommy John surgery in 2014, made 13 appearances at Double-A Tulsa last in 2015, going 3-6 with a 3.88 ERA and 55 strikeouts over 67.1 innings. The next season earned the spot as the Dodgers' No. 5 starter in the preseason.

The Southlake Carroll High School product earned All-America Second Team recognition from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association in 2012. As a senior that year, he was 10-4 with a 3.08 ERA and 120 strikeouts over 125.2 innings in 16 starts. He worked five complete-games in 2012, including one shutout. He threw a no-hitter against San Diego State on May 12, 2012.

Stripling was named All-America First Team by the American Baseball Coaches Association in 2011. He also earned All-America Third Team from NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball as a junior. He was 14-2 with four saves, a 2.29 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 24 appearances.

During his career in College Station, Stripling logged a 31-11 record with four saves, a 3.13 ERA and 340 strikeouts. He ranks second on the Aggies' career list for innings pitched (353.2) and third for wins and strikeouts. He was a two-time All-Big 12 First Team choice.