The Los Angeles Dodgers lost two key members of their starting rotation on back-to-back days last week, with Dustin May sustaining a right flexor pronator strain and Julio Urías suffering a left hamstring strain.
Urías was placed on the 15-day injured list but can be activated as early as June 3. The left-hander’s spot in the rotation is being filled by top pitching prospect Bobby Miller, who impressed in his MLB debut on Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves.
The Dodgers don’t believe Urías’ injury is serious and that he could potentially make his next start against the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium.
Before a decision is made, the 26-year-old will test his hamstring strain throwing a bullpen session at Tropicana Field this weekend, per Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“I did some exercises in the gym,” Urias said. “Obviously, I felt the bruising a little bit but I didn’t feel it to the extent where it was limiting me from the exercises I was doing. So I feel like obviously it’s going to be there, the bruising is going to be there. But hopefully, I’ll be able to pitch through it and throw off the mound the first or second day in Tampa.”
Urías last pitched in the Dodgers’ series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium, allowing six runs on six hits, including four home runs, over just three innings. Urías surrendered all four homers in the same inning, which included giving up back-to-back-to-back long balls.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the team looked into whether Urías tipped pitches in the start, but could not find any evidence to support that.
Overall this season, Urías is 5-4 with a 4.39 ERA, 5.32 FIP and 1.16 WHIP in 10 starts. He is due to become a free agent at the end of the season.
Julio Urías rediscovered self-confidence
Urías entered the month of May with a career-worst three-game losing streak before bouncing back with a stellar start against the Philadelphia Phillies. “I just tried to believe in myself, believe in what I can do and believe in those last few years,” Urías said at the time.
“The consistency from the last few years, being able to piggyback on that and lean on that, and be able to know I can do that, I think that’s what helped.”
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