Roughly midway through Thursday’s series opener against the Colorado Rockies, Alanna Rizzo revealed the Los Angeles Dodgers would need to finish out the game without the services of Kenley Jansen. The initial report was the closer had fallen ill.
After an exciting 8-5 victory that saw the Dodgers slug five home runs over the final three innings, the severity of Jansen’s condition was disclosed to be much more serious. An irregular heartbeat required him to be hospitalized and Jansen was returning to Los Angeles.
Already ruled out for the remainder of the series at Coors Field, Jansen was placed on the 10-day disabled list Friday. It’s plausible the Dodgers will be without their All-Star closer for at least one month.
With no clear-cut replacement, manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the Dodgers would consider activating Julio Urias off the disabled list earlier than initially expected, per Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“I know initially our thought was to get Julio built up to four innings,” Roberts said. “So obviously, with a void with Kenley, Julio being able to fill a role for an inning or two – that adds something we can talk about. But he’s certainly a viable option.”
Urias threw 1.2 innings Friday night for High-A Rancho Cucamonga. He began a formal rehab assignment last week with the Arizona League Dodgers.
Even prior to Jansen’s heart condition becoming a factor, the organization had already decided to build Urias up as a reliever who could go multiple innings instead of stretching him out as a starter. Roberts was excited by the young left-hander contributing in that role.
Urias made three relief appearances during the 2016 season, then pitched out of the bullpen in the National League Division Series and Championship Series that fall.
