Urias to get start in series finale vs. Giants

June 20th, 2019

LOS ANGELES -- will make a spot start in Thursday night’s series finale against the Giants, manager Dave Roberts confirmed Wednesday.

Roberts had earlier said he wanted to insert a sixth starter to provide an extra day’s rest for the starting rotation during the current stretch of 18 consecutive days with games. He tipped his hand it would be Urias going Thursday when he used the multiple-innings reliever for only one inning Monday night.

A start by Urias will push Walker Buehler back one game to start Friday night and bump Hyun-Jin Ryu out of making the start on the Sunday before the All-Star break, putting Ryu in play to pitch in the All-Star Game. Roberts didn’t rule out the possibility of a second spot start being made before the club’s next scheduled day off on July 1.

Roberts said Urias will not have a pitch limit, but he hasn’t pitched longer than three innings since April 18, so Roberts said Caleb Ferguson and Ross Stripling will share the load.

Urias began the season in the rotation out of necessity because of injuries to Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill, going 1-1 with a 3.66 ERA in four starts, including five scoreless innings against the Giants on April 1.

When Kershaw and Hill returned, Urias went to the bullpen, as management’s plan all along was to limit Urias’ innings for late in the season.

Urias made five relief appearances with a 2.08 ERA and two saves, but was arrested on May 13 for investigation of misdemeanor domestic abuse and placed on administrative leave. Since being reactivated, Urias has seven relief appearances with a 2.77 ERA.

Overall, Urias is 3-2 with a 3.05 ERA, three saves, 41 strikeouts and 14 walks in 41 1/3 innings. Four of his 10 relief appearances have come in starts by Kenta Maeda.

Roberts said Urias can do a better job of going as hard as he can for as long as he can, rather than rationing in the early innings, as many starting pitchers do.

“There’s been a little bit of feeling your way in the game,” Roberts said. “The other night he walked the first two hitters of the game and it was 92 [mph fastball]. When there was stress it was 95, 96. Knowing the role in short stints, there’s really nothing to save for him. The stuff is really good.”

In his career, Urias has a 3.77 ERA and 1.37 WHIP as a starter, 2.70 ERA and 1.20 WHIP as a reliever.