Just as Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts intimated would be the case, the club called up a fresh reliever in the form of Josh Ravin for Sunday’s series finale against the Miami Marlins. Julio Urias was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City to make room on the active roster for Ravin.
The right-handed reliever began the season on the 10-day disabled list due to a strained groin. He wasn’t activated until May 10, and went on to appear in four games for Oklahoma City. Prior to that, he pitched twice for High-A Rancho Cucamonga.
Ravin went 1-0, allowed just one run in five innings, and had 11 strikeouts to two walks during his time with OKC. Five of those strikeouts came when he last pitched, Wednesday, during a two-inning relief appearance.
Ravin’s ability to pitch multiple innings serves as insurance should the Dodgers need some semblance of a long reliever on Sunday.
Last season, Ravin allowed one run in 9.2 innings over 10 games across multiple stints with the Dodgers. While the hard-throwing righty pitched well, he served a PED suspension and was ineligible for the club’s postseason roster.
Urias returns to Oklahoma City the day after struggling through another start. He’d allowed just two runs through his first three outings, but was tagged for a combined 13 runs (12 earned) in 6.1 innings across his past two starts.
Urias went 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA and 1.59 WHIP during his time with the Dodgers. The 20-year-old is expected to work on improving command while in the Minors.
“The inconsistency of hitting his locations has been unfortunately consistent,” Roberts said Sunday. “There’s something to learning the Major League strike zone, but there’s also the component of hitting the catcher’s mitt.”
