Julio Urías makes adjustments, finds ‘redemption’ in smooth Dodgers win
PHILADELPHIA — Unlike the Dodgers’ pregame bus ride, Julio Urías’ start Friday night was smooth, seamless and stress-free.
Hours before the game, a charter bus carrying manager Dave Roberts and six players blew a tire on its way to Citizens Bank Park.
“It was my first tire bust to a ballpark,” Roberts said with a laugh after arriving at the stadium.
In the Dodgers’ 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies, his starting pitcher provided the exact opposite experience.
Dodgers begin road trip with 4-1 win over Phillies
The Dodgers began their 10-game road trip on the right foot, beating the Phillies 4-1 for their sixth straight victory.
Julio Urías cruised through five innings before getting a questionable early hook after 80 pitches.
The Dodgers bullpen delivered nonetheless, with Yency Almonte, Alex Vesia and Evan Phillips protecting a three-run lead with three combined scoreless innings.
The Dodgers’ lineup relieved some of the tension in the top of the ninth, scoring an insurance run on Trea Turner’s sacrifice fly. Phil Bickford gave up one run in the bottom half of the frame before Craig Kimbrel finished off the game.
The Dodgers are now 26-12, and will try to match a season-high seven-game win streak on Saturday.
Final: Dodgers 4, Phillies 1
Dodgers bullpen protects lead before lineup provides insurance
The Dodgers had to escape a couple jams in the seventh and eighth innings, but kept their three-run lead — a the team’s shutout — intact with the help of three relievers.
Yency Almonte handled the sixth inning and got one out in the seventh. Alex Vesia followed next, stranded an inherited runner Almonte had left behind. Evan Phillips was passed the baton one batter into the eighth, successfully stranding the runner he had inherited from Vesia, as well as a two-out walk he issued that brought the potential tying run to the plate.
In the top of the ninth, the Dodgers added to their lead after Freddie Freeman singled, stole second and advanced to third on a bad throw, then scored on Trea Turner’s sacrifice fly.
Top 9th: Dodgers lead 4-0
Julio Urías pulled after the fifth as Dodgers still lead
Julio Urías had been on cruise control through five scoreless innings against the Phillies. He’d given up only two hits. He hadn’t issued a walk. He’d struck out five batters.
And yet, the Dodgers turned to the bullpen to begin the sixth, summoning Yency Almonte and bringing Urías’ night to an end.
It’s the latest debatable development in the Dodgers’ usage of Urías this season. Earlier this month, he was working on six scoreless innings (and just 65 pitches) against the San Francisco Giants before getting an early hook.
In the start after that, he had given up two runs and 11 hits to the Pittsburgh Pirates over six innings, but was allowed to return in the seventh inning, when he promptly gave up a home run.
While his pitch count was up to 80 tonight, he hadn’t shown many signs of decline. Kyle Schwarber did hit a double to lead off the fifth, but Urías stranded him by sandwiching two strikeouts around a soft ground ball.
It proved to be his final action of the night, nonetheless.
End 6th: Dodgers lead 3-0
Julio Urías off to sharp start through three scoreless innings
Usually, facing a team in back-to-back starts poses an added challenge for a starting pitcher.
In Julio Urías’ case tonight, however, Dave Roberts hoped it would do the opposite.
After getting roughed up by the Phillies in a six-inning, eight-run (five earned) start last week at Dodger Stadium, the left-hander has come out strong tonight, allowing just one baserunner over three scoreless innings so far.
“I think that certainly a lot of times if you see an opponent this quick, it’s an advantage to the hitter,” Roberts said pregame about Urías repeat matchup against the Phillies. “But he didn’t pitch well against those guys last time. So he’s a guy that wants to go out there and kind of have a little redemption.”
Phillies starter Ranger Suarez suffered a converse fate tonight. After limiting the Dodgers to just three runs over seven innings last Sunday, he managed just three innings tonight, giving up three runs on five hits and two walks.
End 3rd: Dodgers lead 3-0
Dodgers strike for three early runs
The Dodgers started fast, again benefitting from production at the top of their lineup.
After loading the bases in the first inning on a single from Freddie Freeman and walks from Trea Turner and Will Smith, the Dodgers managed one run via a Justin Turner groundout.
A Mookie Betts double in the second inning put runners on second and third, allowing Freeman to drive in a pair with his second hit of the game.
Mid 2nd: Dodgers lead 3-0
Clayton Kershaw, Tommy Kahnle still battling injuries
PHILADELPHIA — Neither Clayton Kershaw nor Tommy Kahnle are close to returning to the Dodgers pitching staff.
Kershaw, out since May 13 because of SI joint inflammation in his lower back, is likely a couple weeks away from throwing a bullpen session, according to manager Dave Roberts.
While that timeline could change if Kershaw begins feeling better, Roberts said Kershaw is back home in Texas and will rejoin the team when it travels to Arizona next week.
“I just don’t want to kind of put him under any timeline,” Roberts said.
Kahnle is also facing an extended absence after an MRI this week revealed a bone bruise in his elbow, something the team believes is a residual effect from his Tommy John surgery recovery the past couple years.
Kahnle, who is resting in Arizona, will be shut down for at least a week or two before he throws again.
Kahnle had only made four appearances since returning from Tommy John surgery before being placed back on the injured list.
“We’re expecting to have him back at some point in time,” Roberts said. “But it’s certainly just disappointing with all that he’s had to overcome to get back here.”
Friday’s lineup
Max Muncy got a scheduled off day for the series opener against the Phillies, but Roberts said Muncy likely will see more playing time at third base.
It also means Justin Turner will slot in as the designated hitter more often, a move Roberts hopes will provide both players more consistency — and lead to better results.
“Getting each of those guys more accustomed to a certain role, I think ultimately could be beneficial,” Roberts said. “I like both guys over there, I trust them both, but it’s a balancing act.”
Here is the Dodgers’ lineup for Friday:
Pedro Báez back with Dodgers on minor-league deal
PHILADELPHIA — The Dodgers brought back a familiar face, signing reliever Pedro Báez to a minor-league deal Thursday.
Báez, who was released by the Houston Astros last month and last pitched with the Dodgers in 2020, will go to Arizona to work with club personnel at Camelback Ranch.
After winning a World Series with the Dodgers in 2020, Báez signed a two-year, $12.5 million contract with the Astros as a free agent the following offseason.
His tenure in Houston did not go well.
Last year, Báez made just four appearances with the team and finished the season on the injured list.
This year, he had an 11.57 ERA in three outings before he was designated for assignment and ultimately released.
Báez’s fastball velocity has dropped off significantly since he left L.A. After averaging 97 mph for most of his career, and still sitting 94 mph in his last season with the Dodgers, it was down below 90 mph this year.
It makes Báez’s return to the Dodgers seem like little more than an experiment, to see if there’s anything the 34-year-old can fix to still be a serviceable pitcher.
ICYMI: Dodgers salvage winning homestand with victory over Diamondbacks
It was this time last year the Dodgers began to slide.
Following a 13-2 start to the 2021 campaign, the team went into an early-summer tailspin. They lost 15 of 20 games. They squandered their season-opening momentum. And it took them close to a month to snap out of the malaise, eventually contributing to their costly second-place finish in the National League West.
Last week, it seemed like the Dodgers were on the verge of another consequential skid.
They suffered a troubling series loss in Pittsburgh. Their pitchers were drummed in three straight defeats to the Philadelphia Phillies upon returning home.
“We put ourselves in a little hole at the start of this homestand,” manager Dave Roberts said.
But by the end of the home stretch Wednesday, the Dodgers were back on their feet again.
Where is Walker Buehler? Dodgers ace is still searching for old self
The Dodgers are six weeks into their season and the right-handed anchor of their rotation is still missing.
No, not that one.
The other one — their big-game pitcher, Mr. Game 163, the one with “Buetane” stitched on his glove.
Where is Walker Buehler?
Buehler wants to know too.
“This is my eighth start,” Buehler said. “I should be in game shape by now.”
The pitcher of record in a 5-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, Buehler won for the fifth time this season and kept his ERA under 3.00.
The details were problematic, however.
Dodgers vs. Phillies: Latest betting odds, lines and picks
From VSIN.com: Over the last seven days, Mookie Betts has provided the bulk of the offense for Dodgers. He’s batted .345 with 10 runs, seven RBIs, and three home runs. Meanwhile, it’s been Bryce Harper who has been hot for the Phillies. Over the last week, he’s batting .750 with four runs, five RBIs, and two home runs.
Dodgers Insights:
- Julio Urías has a reverse platoon split and is fortunate enough to be facing two same-handed bats today.
- Max Muncy has primarily hit in the top-half of the lineup this year (94% of the time), but he is projected to bat sixth in the batting order in this game.
How to watch and stream the Dodgers this season
Here’s a look at the Dodgers broadcast and streaming schedule for the remainder of the 2022 regular season: