Urias placed on IL after pitch hits him in left calf
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.
More Bauer trouble
A report by The Washington Post that a second woman sought a protective order against Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer in 2020 came out Saturday. It is just the latest addition to the news surrounding Bauer, who has not pitched for the Dodgers since June 28 while sexual assault allegations against him by a San Diego woman are being investigated by MLB and the Pasadena police.
Bauer is expected to be in court Monday for the beginning of a hearing on the restraining order sought by the San Diego woman. The Dodgers have not commented on Bauer’s situation since he was originally placed on administrative leave in early July and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said it is not a topic he has addressed with Bauer’s former teammates — “not one time” — nor has it been a distraction.
“Honestly for me, it’s enough focusing on the guys that are with us and trying to win baseball games. That’s where I put all of my focus and energy,” Roberts said. “We know what’s going on outside our clubhouse. But it’s not even a topic of conversation. We have to win baseball games.”
Right field for Betts
When Mookie Betts returned
from his first IL stint due to hip pain, he made three starts at second base before moving back to right field for two games. The hip pain worsened at that point. He went back to the IL and received a cortisone injection for the pain.
Playing second base on the dirt infield was supposed to be easier on Betts’ hip than playing right field, which requires more running. But Roberts said the Dodgers do not plan to play Betts at second base when he returns from the IL again. Trea Turner has started at second base since arriving in a trade.
“Where we’re at, we’ve got to get him back to play right field,” Roberts said. “When he comes back, it’ll be in right field.”
Also
• After missing four games with a groin injury suffered on a fielding play last Sunday, Justin Turner was available off the bench Saturday and struck out as a pinch-hitter, appearing on defense briefly. Roberts said he expects Turner to be back in the starting lineup today.
• Injured starter Clayton Kershaw is expected to rejoin the Dodgers when they return to L.A. on Monday. Kershaw will re-start his throwing program by playing catch, according to Roberts. Kershaw has been out with an elbow injury since July 3.