Dodgers @ Nationals July 21, 2016: Julio Urias vs. Stephen Strasburg

The Dodgers are looking for the series win today, but it isn’t going to be easy. They’re facing one of the game’s best pitchers in Stephen Strasburg. They’re countering with Julio Urias. In a couple years, this is going to be a true marquee matchup.

	Dodgers			Nationals
	9:05 a.m. PT			D.C.
2B	Utley		2B	Turner
LF	Kendrick		CF	Taylor
1B	Gonzalez		3B	Murphy
3B	Turner		RF	Harper
CF	Pederson		3B	Rendon
SS	Taylor		C	Ramos
RF	Toles		LF	Heisey
C	Ellis		SS	Espinosa
P	Urias (L)		P	Strasburg (R)

Urias has thrown all of one inning since last starting on July 4. The plan with him continues to be incredibly baffling.

But Urias unlikely to stay in rotation. "I still think we're not to the point in season where we can just run him out there as a starter"

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) July 21, 2016

I’m done trying to figure out what this team’s plan is for Urias this season.

The lineup looks good through the first five hitters (although, I’m not sure why Justin Turner and Adrian Gonzalez are flip-flopped), but then I remembered this is Dave Roberts. It’s a morning game on a get away day, so there has to be a couple wrinkles.

One isn’t his fault, as Corey Seager is missing his third consecutive game with a stomach virus. Here’s hoping he’s well enough to play this weekend in St. Louis.

After Joc Pederson hitting fifth, the lineup really thins out. Chris Taylor is having a nice start to his Dodger career, but has no business batting sixth. Andrew Toles is not your prototypical right fielder. I guess Yasiel Puig needs a day off (I know he doesn’t do well against high velocity), but if that’s the case, why not play Scott Van Slyke? And A.J. Ellis is, well, ‘tevs.

Anyhoo, onto some news.

Today, the #Dodgers recalled Julio Urías from Triple-A Oklahoma City and selected the contract of left-hander Grant Dayton from OKC.

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 21, 2016

To make room for these two lefties, Charlie Culberson and Zach Walters were optioned to Triple-A.

Grant Dayton, 28, is a soft-tossing lefty whom the Dodgers acquired for Chris Reed last year. Chris Hatcher was placed on the 60-day disabled list to make room for Dayton on the 40-man roster. He cannot return until almost late-September, so I’m guessing the MLB portion of his 2016 season is, in effect, over.

In 32 1/3 innings with OKC, Dayton struck out 57 batters (15.9 K/9) and walked just seven (1.9 BB/9). That also works out to a 45.6 K% and 5.6 BB%. He also had a 15 2/3-inning stint with Tulsa (48.3 K%, 5.3 BB%).

So, how does Dayton get so many strikeouts?

Asked Dave Roberts what he's been told about Grant Dayton and his Ks. The phrase "high spin rate" was used. #Dodgers

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) July 21, 2016

Fun! That makes four lefties in the Dodgers’ pen: Luis Avilan, Dayton, Adam Liberatore, J.P. Howell. There are now the same number of southpaws and righties in there, which isn’t a thing anyone thought would happen.

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