Julio Urias' innings total might not be…
Julio Urias' innings total might not be as high as it seems
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urias throws against the San Diego Padres during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
By J.P. Hoornstra | jhoornstra@scng.com | Daily News
PUBLISHED: September 30, 2016 at 12:53 a.m. | UPDATED: September 6, 2017 at 5:01 a.m.
SAN DIEGO >> When is an innings limit not an innings limit?
As Dodgers coaches and executives contemplate how much more rookie pitcher Julio Urias can — and should — give them this year, it's worth flashing back to April 11. Urias made his first regular season start that day for Triple-A Oklahoma City in Memphis, Tennessee.
Matt Herges, the Oklahoma City pitching coach, watched and waited as Urias threw one scoreless inning after another. Urias' pitch count reached 73 after five innings when it was decided he'd met his limit. He still hadn't allowed a run.
Often, the decision to remove Urias wasn't easy.
"There were times when it was 'hey we need to get him out of the game' — yeah but he's only got 68 pitches," Herges recalled. "And so, really?"
The more Urias evolves as a major leaguer, the more the dilemma persists. Thursday, the 20-year-old lefty threw 58 pitches in three scoreless innings against the San Diego Padres.
Both Urias' dominance, and his low pitch count Thursday, make him a viable candidate to pitch meaningful innings in October. The Dodgers and Washington Nationals begin their National League Division Series a week from Friday.
It's all but given that Urias will be on the Dodgers' 25-man roster for the series. That's no small feat by itself. Whether he starts or relieves, Urias will become the youngest Dodger since at least 1903 to appear in a postseason game, and the youngest pitcher to throw in the playoffs since 1970.
But how many innings should he add to his regular-season total?
To answer that question, it's worth remembering that Urias had a streak of 29 consecutive scoreless innings at one point in the Triple-A season. That counts for something, Herges said.
"Stressful innings typically get up there in (pitch) count," he said. "If you have multiple, a few 20-plus pitch innings in a game, those wear on you a lot more than the 12- to 15-pitch innings. I think that's true. Part of it is psychological. Part of it is, that many throws over and over. Young pitchers, they're trying harder and harder, and that makes it a physical thing."
Urias will likely finish the regular season with 122 innings between the majors and Triple-A, already a career high. He threw 45 innings at Oklahoma City, and most were stress-free. Three times, he was removed after throwing six shutout innings. Once he was removed in the middle of a no-hitter.
"Can he pitch in the postseason? In my opinion, absolutely," Herges said. "Can he handle it? I think so. We won't know unless he breaks down. It's hard because he's so young and so talented. It's on us."
For whom the roster spot Toles
Rookie outfielder Andrew Toles will be on the Dodgers' roster for the NLDS, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
Toles, 24, has a .311 batting average and three home runs in his first 46 major league games. He's gotten more frequent playing time in left field during Josh Reddick's hot September, and is a candidate to split time there with veteran Howie Kendrick.
Toles bats left-handed and Kendrick bats right-handed.
"For me with Andrew, I want to continue to gather more information," Roberts said. "He's had a little over 100 plate appearances as a major league player. Howie, we know his professionalism, what he's going to give you."
Before he called his final Padres game, retiring broadcaster Dick Enberg visited with Roberts in the visiting manager's office at Petco Park. "It started getting a little emotional," Roberts said. "He's an amazing storyteller. I really like the unedited versions, too." … Thursday was shortstop Corey Seager's final day off of the regular season, Roberts said. … With Howie Kendrick playing first base, Kiké Hernandez got his fifth start of the season at second base on a day off for veteran Chase Utley. Roberts said that Hernandez will see time at multiple positions in San Francisco.
Andrew Toles
Howie Kendrick
Julio Urias
J.P. Hoornstra | reporter
J.P. Hoornstra covers Major League Baseball and is the author of 'The 50 Greatest Dodger Games Of All Time.' He once recorded a keyboard solo on the same album as two of the original Doors.
jhoornstra@scng.com
Follow J.P. Hoornstra @jphoornstra