Dodger Thoughts

Jon Weisman's outlet for dealing psychologically with the Los Angeles Dodgers, baseball and life

Tag: Julio Urias (Page 2 of 8)

Dodgers revise rotation to include Julio Urías

Sandy Koufax speaks with Rich Hill, Julio Urias and interpreter Jesus Quinoes before the Vin Scully Appreciation Day ceremony September 23. Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Sandy Koufax speaks with Rich Hill, Julio Urías and interpreter Jesus Quinonez before the Vin Scully Appreciation Day ceremony September 23. Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers at Padres, 7:10 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian González, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Josh Reddick, RF
Andrew Toles, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
Kenta Maeda, P

By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers have announced their starting pitchers for the regular season’s remaining six games, and while it is (as always) subject to change, there are some interesting tea leaves to read.

Fresh off a recent conversation with Sandy Koufax (above), Julio Urías has been pegged to start Thursday for the Dodgers, following — in a switch — Kenta Maeda tonight and Jose De León on Wednesday.

With Rich Hill, Clayton Kershaw and Maeda slated for the final series against the Giants, that means veterans Brett Anderson, Scott Kazmir and Brandon McCarthy would appear to be all but out of consideration for the National League Division Series.

In their only appearances of the month, Anderson threw five innings September 22, Kazmir a single inning September 23 and McCarthy — most encouragingly — six innings of two-run ball September 25.

There’s never been any shortage of surprises with these Dodgers, but you’d be asking any of those pitchers to start on 2 1/2 weeks of rest, simulated innings aside. Game 4 of the NLDS would be played October 11.

Aside from the implications for finalizing the NLDS roster, the main question now is whether Urías, who has a 3.53 ERA this season but has thrown only two innings since September 13, is in a competition with De León to be positioned as No. 4 starter in the playoffs, or whether this is all a backup plan.

Based on Dodger playoff history from 2013-15, Clayton Kershaw would come back on three days’ rest to pitch in Game 4. His recovery from a disk herniation has mostly tabled that concept, but if Kershaw is feeling 100 percent, would you count him out?

Essentially, the Dodgers can start Kershaw in Game 4, turn to one of the rookies, or treat it as a glorified bullpen game, with Urías or De León combining with Ross Stripling to take the starter innings.

We’ll find out soon enough, won’t we?

Meanwhile, Hill pitching before Kershaw this weekend in San Francisco shouldn’t necessarily be interpreted as a change in the pecking order. It’s far more likely to give Hill an extra day of rest before he takes the mound in the playoffs. By pitching Saturday, Kershaw would open the NLDS on five days’ rest, with Hill on seven days’ rest.

However, if you want to mull something off the wall, consider this: There are three days’ rest between NLDS Game 1 (October 7) and Game 4, but four days’ rest between NLDS Games 2 (October 8) and Game 5 (October 13). So if you wanted Kershaw to pitch on normal rest for two games, a Game 2 start would be the way to go. In that case, though, you’re guaranteeing the need for a fourth starter in the series.

Update: Dave Roberts confirmed tonight that it would be Kershaw, Hill and Maeda to begin the playoffs, in that order.

Julio Urías leaves early (but remains impressive), Dodgers lose late

Rich Schultz/Getty Images

Rich Schultz/Getty Images

Yankees 3, Dodgers 0
Home runs on consecutive pitches by Jacoby Ellsbury and Didi Gregorius in the bottom of the seventh broke a scoreless duel. Ross Stripling, in his third inning of relief, took the loss. Gary Sanchez added a third Yankee homer in the eighth off Jesse Chavez.

By Jon Weisman

If tonight’s was in fact Julio Urías’ final start of 2016, as Dave Roberts told reporters today, what a journey it has been. And whether it’s the bullpen for the remainder of the season or the starting rotation in years to come, what a journey we have to look forward to.

Urías bookended his run of starts this year where he began it — in New York. And as he did against the Mets on May 27, Urías walked more Yankees than he struck out tonight. Those are the only two nights Urías pitched this year in which that happened.

As symmetrical as those moments might be on the surface, Urías seemed to improve with every outing in between. Since June 7, his ERA was 2.80. Since the All-Star Break, it was 2.02.

Read More

Clayton Kershaw reunited with baseball

Arizona Diamondbacks vs Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers at Marlins, 4:10 p.m.
Kershaw CCLIX: Kersho and the Two Strings
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrián González, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Josh Reddick, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
Andrew Toles, LF
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

Clayton Kershaw is off the disabled list and back on the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who made the move official this afternoon.

Cary Osborne caught us up on Kershaw this morning. Moments ago, Dave Roberts told reporters that the Dodgers will take things “inning to inning” tonight,” but that the schedule calls for Kershaw to make his next start on four days’ rest Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.

In between, the Dodgers will have Rich Hill and Kenta Maeda pitching against the Marlins, followed by rookies Jose De León and Julio Urías at New York.  The latter two will have had more than a week’s worth of rest.

Roberts added that he expected to see Urías in the bullpen in October.

To create room on the 40-man roster for Kershaw, the Dodgers recalled right-handed pitcher Carlos Frias from Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he has been on the disabled list since July 12, and placed him on the big-league 60-day DL.

In doing so, the Dodgers have broken the known record for most players on the DL in one year with 28.

The 26-year-old Frias, who had a 3.95 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 43 1/3 minor-league innings this year, pitched in one game for the Dodgers in 2016, throwing four shutout innings July 7 against the Padres. He is tied for 14th all-time for the Dodgers in innings pitched with a single-season ERA of 0.00.

In case you missed it: Giants take day off in race

Corey Seager reacts to being safe at second on the game-winning play in the eighth inning Sunday.

Corey Seager reacts to being safe at second on the game-winning play in the eighth inning Sunday.

Dodgers at Rockies, 5:40 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Howie Kendrick, LF
Corey Seager, SS
Adrián González, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Josh Reddick, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
Rob Segedin, 3B
Kenta Maeda, P

By Jon Weisman

A few quick notes before the Dodgers begin their second Colorado-or-bust, three-game road trip.

The Dodgers will play three games in 48 hours (weather permitting) between tonight and Wednesday afternoon, then fly home.

San Francisco is off tonight, so there will be a half-game added or subtracted from the Dodgers’ two-game lead in the National League West this evening. The Dodgers will gain back the off day on the Giants on Thursday.

After two games at home Tuesday and Wednesday vs. Arizona, San Francisco travels to Wrigley Field to play four games with the Cubs.

Meanwhile …

Read More

How much will Dodgers fatten roster in September?

CHICAGO CUBS VS LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Cubs at Dodgers, 1:10 p.m.
Howie Kendrick, LF
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrián González, 1B
Kiké Hernandez, CF
Rob Segedin, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Charlie Culberson, 2B
Brock Stewart, P

By Jon Weisman

September 1, the date that active rosters can expand to as many as 40 players, has been in the Dodgers’ sightlines for some time — the seemingly perfect quirk in the schedule to serve a team that has depth in its pitching staff but not length.

Today, Dave Roberts told reporters that the Dodgers plan to activate Louis Coleman from the disabled list before Friday’s game (Thursday is actually an off day for Los Angeles, except for the Dodgers All-Access event) and also bring back reliever Casey Fien from the minors.

That would give the Dodgers a minimum of 14 pitchers, pending more possible additions as the month progresses. A recall of Luis Avilan and Josh Fields, who pitched recently for the Dodgers, would give them 16 arms. Brett Anderson, Scott Kazmir, Brandon McCarthy and Josh Ravin are on the 15-day disabled list, and so with the flick of paperwork, the pitching staff could number as many as 20.

Hopes remain for the return from the 60-day disabled list of Clayton Kershaw to the starting rotation and Alex Wood to the bullpen, and then you possibly have 22 pitchers. (That seems like a lot.) In those cases, however, someone currently on the 40-man roster would have to be displaced.

That’s why, despite his strong finish at Triple-A Oklahoma City and highly regarded prospect status, Jose De Leon — who is not on the 40-man roster yet — might not see action for Los Angeles this year. It hasn’t been ruled out, but it’s predicated on the status of the aforementioned score of pitchers.

Read More

Julio Urías strikes again in Dodger win

FullSizeRenderBy Jon Weisman

Despite allowing the first three batters against him to reach base for a run, Julio Urías matched career highs with six innings an eight strikeouts, pitching the Dodgers to a 3-2 victory over the Cubs.

Since facing the Cubs in his second career start June 2, Urías has a 2.93 ERA with 63 strikeouts in 55 1/3 innings. He also had his third career big-league hit.

For the year, Urías has fanned 10.0 batters per nine innings — the highest single-season K/9 rate in the Majors among pitchers age 20-and-under (minimum 50 innings) since Dwight Gooden in 1984, and the highest in Dodger history.

Corey Seager hit his 23rd homer to tie the game in the bottom of the first, breaking Glenn Wright’s 86-year-old franchise record for home funs (no typo) by a shortstop.

Read More

Rich Hill throws 75 pitches in simulated game

Clayton Kershaw, Scott Kazmir and Rich Hill jog during batting practice August 9. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Clayton Kershaw, Scott Kazmir and Rich Hill jog during batting practice August 9. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

By Jon Weisman

Rich Hill threw 75 pitches in a simulated game Thursday at Camelback Ranch that “went well,” according to Dodger manager Dave Roberts, and is likely to start for the Dodgers in their August-23-25 series against San Francisco.

Roberts also said that Julio Urías will make a spot start Sunday, with Kenta Maeda getting extra rest and going either Monday in Cincinnati or Tuesday against the Giants. Roberts noted that the team has enough bullpen coverage to avoid using Urías tonight (behind Bud Norris) or Saturday (behind Brett Anderson), even if either makes an early exit.

Obviously, never say never — you never know when an 18-inning game is around the corner — but that’s the plan.

Clayton Kershaw threw on flat ground today in advance of his scheduled bullpen session Saturday, consisting of 20-25 pitches. Kershaw is then penciled in to follow that with a 40-45 pitch session Tuesday. Roberts told reporters that Kershaw was in “good spirits.”

 

Dodgers weather McCarthy’s troubles in 8-4 win

Image-1[83]

By Jon Weisman

There are more questions about Brandon McCarthy, but at least the Dodgers had multiple answers for their two-game losing streak.

Read More

When you’re Seager, the whole world smiles with you

Image-1[50]

Seager smileBy Jon Weisman

Each time he jogged around the bases tonight — and trust us, he wasn’t loafing — Corey Seager had a wide grin on his face.

And why not? Seager broke the Los Angeles Dodger record for homers by a shortstop in the first inning with his 20th, then added his 21st for good measure in the seventh, in the Dodgers’ 9-4 victory over Philadelphia.

Read More

Coleman, Liberatore head to DL, Toles optioned — Urías, Fields and Stewart recalled

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS VS LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Dodgers at Rockies, 5:40 p.m.
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Scott Van Slyke, RF
Adrián González, 1B
Kiké Hernández, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Brock Stewart, P

By Jon Weisman

A flurry of moves have been made by the Dodgers before tonight’s game in Colorado.

Louis Coleman (right shoulder fatigue) and Adam Liberatore (left elbow inflammation) have been placed on the disabled list. For Liberatore, the transaction is retroactive to July 30.

Joining the Dodgers from Triple-A Oklahoma City are pitchers Julio Urías and newly acquired Josh Fields. In addition, outfielder Andrew Toles has been optioned to Oklahoma City to make room for tonight’s starting pitcher, Brock Stewart.

Read More

Starting pitching remains in flux for Dodgers

Rich Hill today met reporters for the first time as a Dodger.

Rich Hill today met reporters for the first time as a Dodger.

By Jon Weisman

Though newly acquired left-hander Rich Hill is eligible to come off the disabled list Thursday, he will likely make a rehab start before his Dodger debut, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.

Hill threw a bullpen session today, and said his finger blister was much improved, according to Gurnick. He hasn’t recorded an out since July 7, when he struck out 10 in six innings for Oakland in a 3-1 victory over Houston.

The Dodgers are also giving an extra day of rest to Kenta Maeda and Scott Kazmir, who were originally scheduled to start Wednesday and Thursday at Colorado. Maeda will start Thursday, with Kazmir taking the mound Friday against Boston. Kazmir remained in Los Angeles rather than making the trip to Colorado.

Also in Los Angeles is Bud Norris, who left his Sunday start after two batters because of right lat soreness. Norris is receiving back treatment, and the hope is that he would start Saturday for the Dodgers, though nothing is definite.

Read More

Dodgers recall Austin Barnes, option Julio Urías

Dodgers at Cardinals, 5:15 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrián González, 1B
Howie Kendrick, LF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Joc Pederson, CF
Scott Van Slyke, RF
Brandon McCarthy, P

By Jon Weisman

Sorry for the sparse Dodger coverage this week: We’ve been on a family sightseeing trip to Washington D.C., and though I crossed paths with the team Wednesday at Nationals Park, I’ve mostly been focused on trying to spend one of these 52 weeks a year of fatherhood not tied to the computer.

It’s certainly been another eventful week in the world of the Dodgers, with some bursts from the offense twice out of the three games in Washington, and the transaction wire again hopping daily. This evening brings catcher-infielder Austin Barnes back to the Dodgers, with Julio Urías being thanked for his Thursday spot start (four innings, one run) before being handed a ticket back to Oklahoma City.

Barnes has a lovely .383 on-base percentage and .454 slugging percentage in 63 games with Oklahoma City this year, as well as 17 steals in 19 attempts. He is 2 for 19 in abbreviated action for Los Angeles in 2016.

Fortunately, Cary Osborne will be back tonight to wrap things up after the game. Here’s to a good one.

In case you missed it: A moment of reflection

Padres at Dodgers, 1:10 p.m.
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrián González, 1B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Trayce Thompson, CF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Kenta Maeda, P

By Jon Weisman

I didn’t want to let the weekend go by without passing along the words Vin Scully recited to the Dodger Stadium crowd before Friday’s game, near the end of an incredibly difficult week in this country.

Ladies and gentlemen. At this time, we’d like to take a moment to reflect on the tragic events that have occurred across our country over the past few days. As a community and a nation, we mourn the tragic loss of lives and injuries, and our deepest sympathies go out to all who have been directly impacted by those events and to their families and friends. As United States attorney general Loretta Lynch said today, “This has been a week of profound grief and heartbreaking loss, but as she also reminded us, “Today and every day we are one nation, we are one people and we stand together.

Therefore, we commend the heroic actions and courage of our first responders, volunteers, citizens and government officials, and we gratefully acknowledge the sacrifice that so many have made on behalf of those people. And as the organization that took a historic stance against racism, the Los Angeles Dodgers will continue to stand firm against all forms of hatred, violence and discrimination. At this time, we ask that you please stand silently for a moment of reflection and respect.

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

A few other items from recent days …

Read More

Dodgers to recall Luis Avilan, option Julio Urías

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Orioles at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Trayce Thompson, CF
Adrián González, 1B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Howie Kendrick, LF
Chris Taylor, 3B
Kenta Maeda, P

By Jon Weisman

Luis Avilan is being recalled by the Dodgers to take the spot of Julio Urías, who as expected will be optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City, a day after his final big-league start before the All-Star Break. Dave Roberts told reporters the news this afternoon.

This is Avilan’s third separate stint with the big-league club this year, but he has only thrown one official inning. In four games, opponents were 3 for 6 against him with two walks (one intentional).

For Triple-A Oklahoma City, Avilan has 29 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings with a 4.55 ERA.

Urías was called up for his MLB debut eight years and two days after Clayton Kershaw, and he was optioned (technically, for the second time — though he didn’t miss a start) eight years and three days after Kershaw. A comparison of their opening acts with the Dodgers:

  • Kershaw (May 25-July 1, 2008): age 20, eight starts, 38 2/3 innings, 4.42 ERA (99 ERA+), 1.63 WHIP, 7.7 K/9
  • Urías (May 27-July 4, 2016): age 19, eight starts, 36 1/3 innings, 4.95 ERA (80 ERA+), 1.54 WHIP, 10.9 K/9

Dodgers rally, Urías likely to be optioned

By Jon Weisman

With an innings milestone near and no starts remaining before the All-Star Break, it was no surprise for Dave Roberts to tell reporters after tonight’s latest Dodger comeback victory (7-5 over the Orioles) that the Dodgers will probably option Julio Urías on Tuesday.

Read More

Page 2 of 8

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén