Dodgers Way Quick Hits: Julio Urias Nearing the End of His Injury Rehab

The Dodgers bullpen received a boost with Kenta Maeda and Ross Stripling but their biggest boost might be the return of Julio Urias.

The Dodgers announced that the next start for Julio Urias will be made with the Double-A Tulsa Drillers this week.  Urias last pitched on Friday and allowed one run on three hits in an inning and a third.  While the line is nothing special, the fact that Urias touched 95 miles per hour in Friday’s start is very encouraging news.  Urias pitched most of the night around 92-93 miles per hour which was his normal range prior to his injury.

It is anticipated that Urias will make one three-inning start this week for the Drillers and then he could make one more rehab start with the OKC Dodgers before being activated.  This would put Urias right in line for a September return which would give him one month to work his way onto a possible playoff roster should the Dodgers qualify for the postseason.  Urias has been out since May of last season.

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• The Dodgers activated Erik Goeddel from the disabled list last night and optioned switch-pitcher Pat Venditte back to Triple-A Oklahoma City.  Goeddel gave up three runs in his last outing before the disabled list but still has a 3.12 ERA in his last seven games.
• Dave Roberts switched up his lineup last night by hitting Manny Machado in the three spot.  Machado had been the regular number two hitter in the Dodgers lineup but had not driven in a run in twelve games.  Justin Turner moved up into the second spot in the lineup.
• John Axford is out for the next 2-3 weeks and is going to be placed on the disabled list today with a fracture in his fibula.
• Kenley Jansen provided some good and bad news yesterday.  The bad is that Jansen may need another heart surgery during the offseason but the good news is that Jansen expects to be able to return sooner than the initial timeline of four to six weeks.  Jansen is able to work out and throw bullpen sessions which should help shorten his injury absence.

• Catching prospect Will Smith has had a rough start to his Triple-A career hitting below .150 but he knocked in two runs last night on a double and hopefully, that kick-starts his power stroke once again.
• Brian Dozier left last night’s game due to dizziness and also underwent an EKG.  The Dodgers will probably be without his services tonight against the hated Giants.