The 2023 season has not been one to remember so far for Julio Urías, who started on Opening Day and entered the campaign as the expected ace of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitching staff.
But Urías has struggled more often than not when on the mound, posting a 4.35 ERA over 70.1 innings with 70 strikeouts and a 1.11 WHIP. He was also set back by a left hamstring strain that kept him out over one month, going on the 15-day injured list May 20 before returning on July 1.
In his first game back off the IL, Urías was ineffective, completing just three innings and allowing five runs. Since then, he has thrown 12 innings with just two runs allowed over two starts.
That included six shutout innings against the New York Mets on Friday, and Urías believes that’s the stepping stone to getting back on track after his slow start to his season, via Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic:
“I was on the injured list for a while and now that I’m back, I feel like the vacation is over,” Urías said in Spanish, recalling the words he told Roberts after his night ended. “It’s time to get to work.”
The Dodgers starting rotation has been in flux throughout much of the season due to injuries and multiple pitchers struggling. Their depth has been tested and they have relied on multiple rookies to help eat innings, including Bobby Miller and Emmet Sheehan currently, and previously Gavin Stone and Michael Grove.
All five members of the Dodgers’ Opening Day rotation have been on the IL at least once this year, while Tony Gonsolin and Ryan Pepiot injured themselves prior to the start of the season. Walker Buehler is also still recovering from Tommy John surgery he underwent in 2022.
Right now, the Dodgers have Clayton Kershaw on the IL, who has been the only consistent bright spot this year, and his injury is expected to take longer than anticipated to recover. Without him, the Dodgers need Urías to step up and start pitching as the top-of-the-rotation arm he’s capable of being.
Urías has posted an ERA below three in each of the last two seasons, so if he can get back to pitching at that level for the remainder of the season it would go a long way toward helping the rest of the pitching staff and the team as a whole.
Julio Urías set to reach free agency
Another reason Urías has a big incentive to get back on track is he’s set to become a free agent following the end of the 2023 season. He will arguably be the top pitcher available and a strong second half of the season could end up increasing the value of his contract.
If his inconsistent season continues, Urías could end up costing himself years and dollars on his next contract.
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