Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts on Monday formally named Julio Urias the starting pitcher for Game 4 of the National League Championship Series. Roberts said Kenta Maeda is on track to start Game 5, but the club was “open to adjusting.”
Urias was previously named the probable for Game 4 of the NL Division Series, but the Dodgers turned to Clayton Kershaw on short rest to stave off elimination. Urias made his postseason debut against the Washington Nationals in Game 5, throwing two shutout innings.
He became the youngest pitcher in Dodgers postseason history. Prior to that relief appearance, the 20-year-old rookie had last pitched on Sept. 29 when he tossed three scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
The long layoff did include a simulated game Urias threw during a workout at Dodger Stadium on Oct. 4.
The start in Game 4 will be Urias’ third time facing the Chicago Cubs this year. On June 2 at Wrigley Field, in what was just Urias’ second career start, he allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits in five innings.
Urias was a victim of soft-hit contact, but also allowed three home runs. When he drew the Cubs at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 27, Urias allowed just one run on six hits and had eight strikeouts over six innings.
“I think that we expect him to just go out there and compete, use his pitch mix and go after these guys,” Roberts said of his young starter. “Give us a chance to win a baseball game. So it’s what Julio’s done all year long.”
Urias went 5-2 with a 3.39 ERA in 18 games (15 starts). Including time spent with Triple-A Oklahoma City, he tossed a career-high 112 innings this season. He closed September with a 1.93 ERA over four games (three starts).
