Julio Urias tries to get back on track vs. Marlins

LOS ANGELES — Julio Urias gets the call for the Dodgers on Saturday against the Marlins, trying to extend the club’s winning streak to four games and also trying to smooth out his Jekyll and Hyde season so far.

Urias didn’t exactly have a normal spring training. He trained in the offseason to be ready for a full spring and to pitch right away, just in case he had to be ready. But as the overall health of the rest of the Dodgers’ staff was better than expected, the club pulled back the reins a bit during spring, leaving him in a sort of limbo filled with shortened outings to keep his arm loose.

After three minor league starts and four major league starts, Urias has 20 walks in 35 innings this season, including just 11 strikeouts to go with 11 walks in 21 major league innings.

The overall results have been okay — a 3.43 ERA and a 4.32 FIP — even when not at his best.

"It goes to his ability to make pitches, and says a lot about his poise on the mound," manager Dave Roberts said of last week. "Certain guys have a way to limit damage and find ways to win, and other guys don’t have that ability. Julio does have it."

Urias allowed six runs in four innings in a loss Sunday to Colorado, but that followed his longest start as a pro, taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning on May 9 against the Pirates.

At home this season, Urias has as many walks (six) as strikeouts, but has also allowed just one run on five hits in 11⅓ innings.

Saturday will be Urias’ first career appearance against the Marlins.

Dan Straily has been the Marlins’ best starting pitcher this season, posting a 3.56 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 43 innings. But he’s also just 1-3 because Miami has been terrible, and have lost 19 of their last 23 games.

In those last 23 games, the Marlins as a staff have a 5.31 ERA.

And if we’re thinking of a possible carry over of Friday night’s extra curricular activities in the ninth inning into the weekend, Marlins pitchers have hit at least one batter in 14 of their last 15 games. Straily is tied for the team lead with three hit batsmen.

Game info

Time: 7:10 p.m. PT

TV: SportsNet LA, MLB Network