Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Julio Urias will finally make his Dodger Stadium debut on Tuesday night against the Rockies after starting his big league career on the road in New York and Chicago. At 19, he will be the first teenager to pitch at Dodger Stadium since Dwight Gooden in 1984. Urias (0-1, 9.39) is still vying for his first career Major League win.
There may be some nervousness again for Urias when he takes the mound for the Dodgers in L.A. for the first time, but perhaps he will feel a bit more comfortable in front of the home crowd and after already having two starts under his blue belt.
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Rockies
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Dodgers
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7:10 p.m. PT
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Los Angeles
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2B
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LeMahieu |
2B
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Utley | |
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LF
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Raburn |
SS
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Seager | |
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3B
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Arenado |
3B
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Turner | |
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RF
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Gonzalez |
1B
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Gonzalez | |
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SS
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Story |
RF
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Thompson | |
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1B
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Reynolds |
CF
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Pederson | |
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CF
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Parra | LF | Kendrick | |
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C
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Garneau |
C
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Grandal | |
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P
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Butler (R)
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P
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Urias (L)
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After a disappointing Mike Bolsinger start in the series opener, the success of Urias as part of the Dodgers’ starting rotation is significantly important not only at this point in the season but also as part of the long-term plan.
Dave Roberts has confidence in Urias even after his first two rocky starts.
“We believe in the player, in the person,” Roberts said. “He can follow a game plan. It’s just more of getting his feet wet, continuing to calm his nerves and make pitches. … We just want Julio to be Julio, because if he’s executing pitches, he can get anyone out.”
Urias gave up three home runs to the Cubs in his loss at Wrigley Field after being called back up last Thursday. He allowed 6 runs (5 earned) on 8 hits with 4 strikeouts and a walk on 79 pitches through 5 innings of work. The young southpaw only made it through 2 2/3 innings in his Major League debut against the Mets on May 27 and was subsequently optioned back to Triple-A Oklahoma City for a short time.
The left-hander was incredibly dominant in the Pacific League this season going 4-1 with a 1.10 ERA in eight games (7 starts). He struck out 44 and walked eight in 41 innings of work to go along with a 27-inning scoreless streak.
Of course it’s all for naught if the Dodgers can only muster one hit. The one-hit shutout behind Tyler Chatwood on Monday night was only the second time the Rockies accomplished the feat. It was a frustrating loss after the series sweep of the Braves and a 14-hit offensive front on Sunday.
The Rockies will give the ball to Eddie Butler (2-3, 5.65) who has not only started six games for Colorado this season, but he has also pitched in relief twice. He’s coming off a disastrous start against Cincinnati when he was roughed up for 8 runs on 11 hits in 4 innings. He’s fared much better on the road than at Coors Field this year and is 1-2 with a 2.66 ERA in his 4 games (3 starts) away from the hitter’s paradise that is Coors.
The 25-year old right-hander is winless against the Dodgers (0-4 with a 7.04 ERA) in 5 career starts. He’s found himself in trouble during the first couple of innings as a starter, and he is still working on developing a more effective curveball.
Justin Turner has absolutely owned Butler and is hitting .727 with 8 hits including 3 doubles and 2 walks in 14 plate appearances against him. Turner is hitting third in Tuesday’s lineup even though he has collected just 5 hits in the last 14 days. Chase Utley and Joc Pederson are back in the lineup and hitting out of the leadoff and sixth spots. Yasmani Grandal will be behind the plate to catch Urias. He caught his first game, and A.J. Ellis was his batterymate in his second start.
A win for Urias at home would go a long way to instill some confidence in him going forward. I don’t think we have seen the real Urias during his first two starts. His pitching is quite dynamic, but he hasn’t demonstrated sharp control just yet. Maximizing Urias’ innings, which are limited this season, would give the Dodgers a needed boost in the rotation while they wait for injured players to return to action.
Speaking of returning to action, Jose De Leon was the Triple-A Oklahoma City starter Tuesday night at Round Rock. He hadn’t pitched for five weeks due to shoulder soreness.
Jose De Leon welcomed himself back nicely to @okc_dodgers, with 3 perfect innings, including 6 strikeouts. 37 pitches
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) June 8, 2016
Regardless of the result, Urias’ home debut with Vin Scully on the call will be a historic treat.
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