Ross Stripling is a candidate to join the Dodgers’ bullpen at some point this season to preserve his innings. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

There is an innings limit hovering over Ross Stripling in 2016, his first full season back from Tommy John surgery. There are also innings limits for prospects Julio Urias (probably around 100) and Jose De Leon (probably around 130) at Triple-A, with Stripling’s limit probably falling somewhere in between. Those are all educated guesses.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has acknowledged that making Stripling a reliever later this season is possible, to preserve his innings while still allowing him to help the major league team.

“We talked about it,” Roberts said Friday, “but where we’re at right now, we haven’t thought more about that. Haven’t ruled it out but really haven’t revisited it.”

The idea could be revisited depending on a few factors. Mike Bolsinger is on the rehab trail and could be ready to start major league games by the end of this month. Hyun-Jin Ryu and Brandon McCarthy are eyeing a return sometime in late June. De Leon is taking a break to recover from shoulder inflammation but could be called upon at some point this season; the same could be said about Urias, though the Dodgers have only discussed calling him up as a reliever to this point.

That’s at least four pitchers who could conceivably push Stripling for the number-5 starter’s job, which is why his last outing was so important. Five days ago in Toronto, Stripling allowed only one hit and one run in six innings against a tough Blue Jays lineup; he walked none and struck out six.

In that game, Roberts only allowed Stripling to face two batters a third time before going to the bullpen. The third time through the order has been Stripling’s biggest downfall as a rookie; he’s allowed eight hits (three went for extra bases) in 24 at-bats the third time facing an opponent this season. Against all NL pitchers this season, opponents are slashing .259/.322/.415 the third time through the order.

So it will be interesting to see how long Stripling is allowed to stay in tonight’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals. A quick hook doesn’t necessarily bring him one step closer to going to the bullpen, but it’s something the Dodgers can (and maybe will) consider if Stripling continues to struggle deep in games.