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Dodgers News: Julio Urías Adjusted To Get Through Opening Day Start

Matthew Moreno
3 Min Read
Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports

Julio Urías has pitched in several marquee games during his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but getting the nod for an Opening Day represented a first for the left-handed ace.

He took the mound to much fanfare on an unusually chilly March night at Dodger Stadium and threw a first-pitch 94 mph fastball for strike. Urías struck out Kyle Lewis to open the game, but soon ran into trouble and allowed a run in each of the first two innings.

However, that was followed by four shutout innings en route to a successful Opening Day start.

“I made a couple adjustments and felt like myself on the mound a little bit more after those first two innings,” Urías said through an interpreter. “I think I was cutting the fastball too much. Made those adjustments and I was able to be more successful.”

Urías retired 13 of 15 batters faced to get through the sixth inning. The only baserunners during that stretch came on a Miguel Rojas error that Urías immediately erased by inducing an inning-ending double play, and Ketel Marte attempting to stretch a single into a double.

“He just settled in. I think early on, the fastball just didn’t have that same life and just missed a little bit,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

“They built an inning in that second one, got some hits in that first inning to score a run. But the thing about Julio is he minimizes damage. Got some double plays, minimized damage, kept the pitch count down and was able to give us six solid innings.”

Julio Urías: Opening Day start ‘blessing’

The Dodgers decided between Clayton Kershaw and Urías for their 2023 Opening Day starter. This season marked a second consecutive year a pitcher other than Kershaw was chosen outright for the season opener.

He previously conceded the nod to Hyun-Jin Ryu (2019) and Dustin May (2020). Kershaw voiced his support of Walker Buehler last year and this year for Urías, who relished the opportunity.

“It’s an unforgettable experience,” he said. “With a team like this that has the history that is has and all the people that have done it before, it’s really special for me. And obviously being able to send the fans home with a victory was truly a blessing.”

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Matthew Moreno is a journalist from Whittier, Calif., who is a credentialed reporter and is currently the Managing Editor of DodgerBlue.com and LakersNation.com. In addition to covering Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angels Lakers, Matthew has a strong passion for keeping up to date with the sneakerhead culture. It began with Michael Jordan and Air Jordan shoes, and has carried over to Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike. Matthew previously was the lead editor and digital strategist at Dodgers Nation, and the co-editor and lead writer at Reign of Troy, where he covered USC Trojans Football. Matthew graduated from California State Long Beach University with a major in journalism and minor in communications. Contact: matt@mediumlargela.com