The Los Angeles Dodgers have once again hit the point where it appears rehabbing starting pitchers could rejoin the rotation within a few weeks’ time. That of course hinges on Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu completing their rehab assignments without issue, which is hardly a guarantee.
McCarthy threw two innings in his first start with High-A Rancho Cucamonga on Saturday, and completed three innings for the Quakes on Thursday. Ryu tossed three innings with the Quakes on Sunday, and is slated to throw four frames or 60 pitches on Friday.
Their returns naturally impact Dodgers top pitching prospect Julio Urias, who was trust into the rotation due to injuries. Urias made his Major League debut against the New York Mets at Citi Field on May 27 when Alex Wood needed additional rest because of left triceps soreness.
Wood landing on the disabled list with what was later revealed to be a posterior impingement in his left elbow resulted in Urias getting recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
However, after just four starts Urias’ time with the Dodgers appears, for now at least, to be coming to a close, per J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group:
Julio Urías will make two more starts for the Dodgers, then "we'll go from there." Innings limit approaching, Dave Roberts said.
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) June 16, 2016
At present time Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the club doesn’t anticipate placing the young left-hander in the bullpen, per Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
Dodgers bullpen unlikely for Urias, Roberts said.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) June 16, 2016
Urias is scheduled to start Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers and Wednesday night against the Washington Nationals. He’s thrown a combined 58 innings this season; 17 innings with the Dodgers, and 41 with Oklahoma City.
The 19-year-old lefty has yet to surpass the 87.2 innings he pitched for High-A Rancho Cucamonga in 2014. Elective eye surgery shut Urias down for two months last season; he finished with 80.1 innings.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said recently the club was mindful of innings limits on Urias and Ross Stripling, so as to have the option of utilizing either, or both, down the stretch of the season.
Jose De Leon was held back in extended Spring Training when the 2016 season began in part due to an ankle injury, but also to protect against his workload. De Leon also spent time on the disabled list due to shoulder soreness.
If McCarthy or Ryu aren’t ready to return at the same time a decision is needed on Urias, the Dodgers could call on Jharel Cotton, Carlos Frias or Frankie Montas, who are all on the 40-man roster and currently with Oklahoma City.
