In the time after the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Rich Hill as part of a five-player trade, their starting rotation has remained in a state of flux. Hill, recovering from a blister on the middle finger of his left hand, was scheduled to start Sunday.
He threw a bullpen session at Coors Field without issue, but began to feel another blister forming after throwing at Dodger Stadium on Friday. That left Brandon McCarthy to start the series finale against the Boston Red Sox on normal rest.
With McCarthy needing to make his regular turn, that left the Dodgers without a probable starter for Monday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies.
According to David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports Radio, that will go to rookie Julio Urias:
Dave Roberts confirms Julio Urias will start tomorrow #Dodgers
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) August 7, 2016
Since rejoining the Dodgers on Aug. 3, Urias’ lone appearance is out of the bullpen. He threw 51 pitches and allowed three runs over three innings. After being sent down to Triple-A in early July, the Dodgers intended to use Urias as a starter and reliever.
He was needed in a spot start July 21 on the road against the Washington Nationals. Urias held Washington to one run on five hits and had four strikeouts over four innings of work.
In 10 games (nine starts) with the Dodgers this season, Urias is 1-2 with a 4.98 ERA, 3.53 FIP, 1.57 WHIP and 51 strikeouts over 43.1 innings pitched. Including time in the Minors, he’s thrown 88.1 innings, which are a career high.
