After starting Clayton Kershaw on short rest over Julio Urias in Game 4 of the National League Division Series and coming away with a win, the Los Angeles Dodgers were left with the option to start Rich Hill or Julio Urias in Thursday’s winner-take-all Game 5.
Unsurprisingly, Hill earned the nod despite the overarching concern and maintenance that comes with his blisters. Beyond the fact that Hill is starting on three days’ rest for the first time in his career, and Urias being a 20-year-old rookie, the Dodgers decided Hill was the better option due to the roles both southpaws have filled.
“I think our decision ultimately was Julio has pitched out of the pen, so there’s some familiarity, albeit not a lot,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained Thursday.
“Rich has not pitched out of the pen for a long time and to give him the best opportunity to have success, to go through his routine, that kind of won out for us.”
Although Urias didn’t earn the start for Game 5, he’s likely to make a relief appearance. “There’s a good possibility you will see Julio,” Roberts said.
Urias allowed three runs and had 10 strikeouts in nine innings across two starts against the Nationals this season. Overall, he went 5-2 with a 3.39 ERA in 18 games (15 starts) for the Dodgers.
But Urias last pitched on Sept. 29, throwing three scoreless innings out of the bullpen. The long layoff does include a simulated game Urias threw during a workout at Dodger Stadium on Oct. 4.
“We just trust Julio to go out there and execute. I do like the weapons that he has. I feel that he’s got swing-and-miss stuff,” Roberts said.
“I trust the player in this spot. But with the 13-day layoff or whatever the days, I’ll be mindful and Rick (Honeycutt, pitching coach) and I will be mindful of the sharpness.”
While Roberts intends to manage Game 5 with an all-hands-on-deck approach, he emphatically ruled out one option when asked if Kershaw would be used, perhaps even for only one out.
“Absolutely not,” Roberts said.
