For the second time in a week the Los Angeles Dodgers were held to one hit in a loss. After dropping the opener to the Colorado Rockies, which ended a seven-game home winning streak and overall three-game winning streak, the Dodgers hand the ball to young phenom Julio Urias.
The young lefty takes the mound for his third career start and Dodger Stadium debut. The setting is a welcome change from the hostile crowd Urias pitched in front of at Citi Field and Wrigley Field.
He was stung by the long ball in his previous outing, allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits, three of which were home runs, in five innings. Urias allowed back-to-back homers in his final inning of work against the Chicago Cubs.
Although Urias has endured growing pains through his first two starts, there have been moments where he’s looked every bit the heralded prospect. Pitching coach Rick Honeycutt reiterated the notion and called on Urias to focus on making quality pitches.
On the season, Urias is 0-1 with a 9.39 ERA, 2.35 WHIP and seven strikeouts in 7.2 innings pitched. “I know he’s going to be well-represented tonight, the Dodger faithful is really looking forward to this,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said prior to Tuesday’s game.
“He’s had some tough challenges with his first start on the road in New York, and second start against the best team in baseball. Now he gets to face an offensive ball club. I know he’s excited. We’re excited and expect him to pitch well.”
Urias is opposed by 25-year-old Eddie Butler, who has fought some inconsistency this season. Butler is coming off his worst start of the season, allowing eight runs on 11 hits and suffering the loss against the Cincinnati Reds.
He’s appeared in eight games (six starts) and is 2-3 with a 5.65 ERA, 4.60 FIP and 1.31 WHIP. Butler is 0-4 with a 7.04 ERA and 2.17 WHIP in five career starts against the Dodgers. Three of those came last season, with two at Dodger Stadium. He allowed six runs (five earned) and had five walks over 7.2 innings in the pair of outings.
Joc Pederson and Chase Utley return to the lineup, which puts Justin Turner back in the three-spot. The domino effect bumps Trayce Thompson, who starts in right field, to fifth in the lineup.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
RF: Trayce Thompson
CF: Joc Pederson
LF: Howie Kendrick
C: Yasmani Grandal
P: Julio Urias
Rockies lineup:
2B: DJ LeMahieu
LF: Ryan Raburn
3B: Nolan Arenado
RF: Carlos Gonzalez
SS: Trevor Story
1B: Mark Reynolds
CF: Gerardo Parra
C: Dustin Garneau
P: Eddie Butler
