Julio Urias coming back up to replace injured Alex Wood

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers starting rotation is in a state of flux, and that will mean a quicker-than-planned return to the majors for Julio Urias, who was recalled to take the place of an injured Alex Wood, the club announced during Tuesday's game.

Wood has left posterior elbow soreness, per the team.

The move was first reported by Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times.

Wood was pushed back three days with left triceps soreness, then struck out seven in his five innings on Monday against the Cubs in Chicago. Wood has shown great improvement in his last six starts, putting up a 2.80 ERA with 50 strikeouts and just eight walks.

But he reported more triceps soreness on Tuesday according to manager Dave Roberts, per both McCullough and J.P.. Hoornstra of the LA Daily News. That soreness has advanced the elbow, it seems, which sounds much more ominous.

Wood returned to Los Angeles on Tuesday, per McCullough, and will have an MRI to determine the extent of the damage in his elbow.

Urias was optioned back to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday, one day after failing to complete three innings in his major league debut on Friday in New York against the Mets. He needed 81 pitches to record eight outs.

The only way Urias could have been called back up to the majors within 10 days is if he is replacing an injured player, which is the case here.

Urias was scheduled to start Thursday for Oklahoma City against the Iowa Cubs.

Seriously, I saw Julio Urias about 3:30 here. Said hi. Haven't seen him since. Bill Haselman vague about Thurs. start. "Check tomorrow."

— Jacob Unruh (@jacobunruh) May 31, 2016

It is unclear exactly where he would slot into the Dodgers' rotation this time around. Wood was next scheduled for Saturday, but Kenta Maeda, who was hit in the hand by a line drive on Saturday in New York, reported more swelling on Tuesday, putting his Thursday start in doubt, per McCullough.

For now, all we know, I think, is that Scott Kazmir starts tonight against the Cubs and Jake Arrieta. Maybe let's just take this one day at a time.