After being among the Los Angeles Dodgers’ All-Star Game snubs, Julio Urías began the second half of the 2022 season by throwing six scoreless innings against the San Francisco Giants.
The performance followed an excellent outing against the Los Angeles Angels in which the left-hander allowed just one run on five hits and collected eight strikeouts over seven innings pitched.
Since the start of June, Urías has gone 6-1 with a 2.54 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 49.2 innings. It was around that time the 25-year-old made some mechanical adjustments, and he believes they are paying off.
“I think I found a little something the last couple bullpens and then the last two starts,” Urías said last week. “I felt like I’ve been able to make those adjustments and every fifth day come out and pitch like I have.”
Urías specifically noted there’s more of a focus on using his legs to help increase velocity. “Just trying to use my legs to drive through the ball,” he explained. “Obviously not think too much about throwing the ball hard, just doing it. That kind of starts with the legs.”
Urías is scheduled to make his next start on Friday against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. In 19 games this season, he has posted a 9-6 record with a 2.72 ERA, 3.91 FIP and 1.00 WHIP in 102.2 innings pitched.
Urías presented 2021 Warren Spahn Award at Dodger Stadium
Prior to Tuesday’s matchup against the Washington Nationals, Urías received his 2021 Warren Spahn Award, which has been presented by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame since 1999 to the best left-handed pitcher in baseball.
Urías became only the second Dodgers pitcher to be named a Warren Spahn winner, joining Clayton Kershaw, who earned the hardware in 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2017. The award takes into account wins, ERA and strikeouts.
Urías went 20-3 with a 2.96 ERA, 3.13 FIP and 1.02 WHIP across 32 starts last year in what marked his first full season being a permanent member of the Dodgers’ rotation. He was the only 20-game winner in baseball and logged a career-high 185.2 innings.
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