After more than a month in the Dodgers bullpen, Julio Urías will get his sixth start of the season. Dave Roberts made it official on Monday night after Dodgers fans spent a brutal two days in the dark.
He began the season on the starting rotation while Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill were out with injuries and did a fine job holding down the opponents as best as he could. He was a competitor to return to the rotation when Hill returned to the IL earlier this month, but Ross Stripling ultimately won the bid. Of course, now that Stripling has an injury, Urías is filling in.
Urías’ current position on the team is unique, as he is likely to pitch between 2-4 innings, whether he is starting on the mound or coming in as a relief pitcher. He’s not stretched out enough to provide the Dodgers with the long innings their starters are used to, but Dave Roberts said he’s cleared for 60 pitches.
Julio Urías pitching splits
Position | Games | ERA | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | K |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position | Games | ERA | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | K |
Starter | 5 | 3.18 | 22.2 | 15 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 27 |
Reliever | 18 | 1.80 | 35.0 | 22 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 32 |
Urías made a start at Coors Field back in April, and it was decent for it being in Denver. He pitched 3 2⁄3 innings and allowed three runs, four hits and didn’t give up a home run. The 22-year-old doesn’t have much experience at Coors Field, possessing a 7.90 ERA in four appearances (13 2⁄3 innings).
Tony Gonsolin, who was recalled on Tuesday afternoon, will probably come in to pitch behind Urías. The last time he wore a Dodgers uniform, he made his major league debut. And it was not exactly “one for the books.” He pitched four innings against the Diamondbacks, allowing six runs (four earned) and delivering three strikeouts. The offense and defense didn’t provide him with the support he needed to succeed, which sounds a lot like what happened in Monday’s game.
In order to make room for Gonsolin on the active roster, Josh Sborz was optioned to Triple-A. The right-handed pitcher recorded his first MLB strikeout on Monday but also gave up his first MLB home run.
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In other news, Joc Pederson is out of the lineup after being scolded for not running out a groundout last night. Perhaps it could be because the Rockies are starting a left-handed pitcher in Kyle Freeland, or perhaps it’s his punishment for what Pederson called “unprofessional” effort.
There’s a couple new faces in the Dodgers starting lineup for game two in Colorado facing LHP Kyle Freeland. #LABleedsBlue⎪ @SportsNetLA ⎪ @AM570LASports pic.twitter.com/4EfyQ3dTv2
— True Blue LA (@truebluela) July 30, 2019
Two new faces are in thee lineup, too, with Tyler White and Kristopher Negrón in to make their Dodgers debuts. They will bat fifth and seventh in the order, respectively.