:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54449599/usa_today_9575440.0.jpg)
The Dodgers will call up Julio Urias to start on Thursday against the Giants in San Francisco, manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Tuesday, after hinting at the move over the last few days.
Dave Roberts makes it official that Julio Urias will start on Thursday. #Dodgers
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) April 26, 2017
Roberts said Urias was more efficient in his last start with OKC. Roberts said Urias is up to stay.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) April 26, 2017
Roberts on Monday said that Kenta Maeda was pushed back to Friday and that for one time through the rotation the Dodgers would use six starters.
The team doesn’t have an off day until next Thursday, May 4.
Urias struck out six in 5⅔ scoreless innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday night, his third minor league start in what was essentially the end of his spring training. Urias never pitched longer than three innings in any appearance during spring training — even counting minor league appearances and simulated games — but pitched 14 total innings in three games in Triple-A.
The 20-year-old left-hander threw 93 pitches on Friday, a number reached only six times this season by a Dodgers starter — Clayton Kershaw three times, Hyun-jin Ryu twice, and Brandon McCarthy on Sunday.
Urias had a 3.39 ERA in 2016 as a rookie with the Dodgers in 18 games, including 15 starts, with 84 strikeouts and 31 walks in 77 innings.