Dodgers: Urias placed on the IL after being hit by ball.
NEW YORK >> Get a bruise. Get a break.
A fastball to the left calf gave the Dodgers the opening they needed to ease back on Julio Urias in the midst of the heaviest workload of his career. Urias was placed on the injured list on Saturday after being hit in the calf by a pitch while batting in the fourth inning of his start Friday. Urias stayed in and pitched two more innings after being hit but came out after 82 pitches in five scoreless innings.
“Getting hit by a pitch is something that we’re not really used to as pitchers,” Urias said in Spanish after the game. “Obviously hitters are more used to that. But it didn’t really affect me.”
Urias becomes the 14th Dodgers pitcher to go on the IL this season — not including Danny Duffy, who has yet to pitch for the Dodgers since being acquired from the Kansas City Royals (or Trevor Bauer who is on the restricted list). Nine are currently on the IL.
The Dodgers have used a franchise-record 33 pitchers this season, trying to absorb the injuries as well as the move back to 162game regular season after last year’s 60-game schedule. This move leaves them with three starting pitchers — Buehler, Max Scherzer and David Price — plus Mitch White, who went four innings in a start against the Phillies earlier this week.
Urias and Buehler have been the only staples in a starting rotation beset by subtractions. Urias has pitched 139 2/3 innings in 24 starts this season, by far the most of his career, and is tied for the major league lead with 13 victories.
He could miss just one start this week then return in time for the Dodgers’ series in San Diego from Aug. 24-26. Zach McKinstry was activated from the taxi squad to replace Urias on Saturday.