The Los Angeles Dodgers announced changes to their probable pitchers for the final week of the regular season, the most intriguing of which has Julio Urias slotted to face the San Diego Padres on Thursday.
Urias last started Sept. 13 on the road against the New York Yankees, throwing 3.2 scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Los Angeles then made the decision to place the young left-hander in the bullpen as a means to protect against his innings limit.
He threw two innings and allowed one run in one relief appearance since that point. With Urias now back in the rotation, it suggests he’s part of the conversation for the Dodgers’ fourth starter come the 2016 National League Division Series matchup with the Washington Nationals.
The 20-year-old owned a 3.00 ERA and had 10 strikeouts in two starts against the Nationals. Overall this season, Urias is 5-2 with a 3.53 ERA, 3.22 FIP and 1.47 WHIP in 17 games (14 starts).
Including time in the Minors, he’s thrown a combined 119 innings, which is a career high. Another change for the Dodgers has Kenta Maeda starting Tuesday’s series opener at Petco Park in place of Jose De Leon, who was pushed back to Wednesday.
Rich Hill is slated to start Friday against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park, with Clayton Kershaw to follow on Saturday. Lastly, Maeda will start the Dodgers’ 2016 regular-season finale.
Los Angeles begins the NLDS on Friday, Oct. 7. Home-field advantage is hanging in the balance, as the Nationals currently hold a 1.5-game lead in the standings.
