Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Still Debating Julio Urias’ Near Future
Will Julio Urias start the season in the rotation? The minors? Extended spring training? Dave Roberts doesn’t have an answer just yet.
Urias made his spring debut Tuesday, allowing a run and striking out two in a 14-pitch first inning. In an interview with Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times, Roberts said there’s ongoing internal discussion regarding Urias.
“You guys want to know, Julio wants to know and we really want to know a decision, too,” Roberts said. “But I think that we’re really not trying to act too quickly. As you see, we’ve been very cautious … “We have conversations all the time and try to make him understand that it’s not an easy situation. He’s a special person and pitcher. So we’re really trying to be methodical about what’s best for him and what’s best for us.”
#Dodgers Dave Roberts joked about Julio Urias going 1 IP then 1 in bullpen: "I guess he wanted to be on a Clayton Kershaw program"
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) March 1, 2017
McCullough estimates a 160-180 inning cap, which is slightly above our guesstimation in late January based on Scott Boras’ previous comments after pitcher health.
Julio Urias will start again in five days, Dave Roberts said.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) March 1, 2017
The Dodgers want Urias available for the playoffs. Fortunately, the team is so deep in rotation options, it can afford to skip starts. Alex Wood, Ross Stripling, Brock Stewart, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Brandon McCarthy, Scott Kazmir and Trevor Oaks are all vying for starts. Each could have an opportunity depending on how Roberts elects to manage Urias and Kenta Maeda.
Los Angeles’ starters have performed admirably in the early going. Kazmir gets his first shot Wednesday, while Ryu will throw a sim game.
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