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Julio Urias throws to hitters, on track to rejoin Dodgers’ starting rotation

June 21, 2023

ANAHEIM — After a couple of false starts, Julio Urias’ return to the Dodgers’ rotation seems to have real momentum now.

Urias threw to hitters Tuesday afternoon, throwing approximately 45 pitches in three simulated innings. The plan now is for the left-hander to throw another bullpen session in a couple of days then make a rehab start with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday when he could throw as much as four innings or 60 pitches. He could be ready to rejoin the Dodgers after that.

“If all goes well, then hopefully we’ll see him in Kansas City,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, referring to the second stop on the next road trip. “But we’re trying to be mindful of just one step at a time.”

There is reason to be cautious. The Dodgers have had Urias penciled in to return twice since he went on the injured list only to have to adjust their expectations. He has not pitched since injuring his left hamstring on May 18.

“It’s very important to be 100 percent fully healthy,” Urias said in Spanish. “At the beginning, we were trying to rush it, trying to get through it a little bit faster. It didn’t feel as good as I wanted to. Now just taking the process, taking the time and getting back to 100 percent.”

Urias said he has not felt any discomfort in his hamstring for “about a week, a week and a half.”

“You have your routines, every day is different,” Urias said. “I’ve been waiting to work out my legs and when I’d do it, it wouldn’t feel strong. About a week and a half ago, I felt more normal.”

Urias wasn’t his normal self before going on the IL. In his last six starts before the injury, he had a 6.25 ERA and allowed 11 home runs (four in one inning in his final start at St. Louis). He said he has put this downtime to good use, looking for answers to his slump.

“I’ve been watching a lot of tape,” he said. “I like to watch a lot of tape, to go over some things and work on that consistency, find the things I was doing really well at the beginning of the season.

“There’s things in mechanics but also things where I feel like when I’m doing well, I’m attacking hitters. I feel like that’s what I was missing. Now I’m trying to correct it and come back as fast as I can to help the team.”

MUNCY RETURN

Max Muncy was one of the hitters who faced Urias on Tuesday afternoon. Roberts said Muncy is no longer feeling any discomfort in the injured hamstring that landed him on the IL.

Muncy will be eligible to come off the IL on Friday and Roberts said he expects Muncy to be in the starting lineup that night against the Houston Astros.

BULLPEN SHUFFLE

After two hitless appearances with Triple-A Oklahoma City, the Dodgers promoted veteran right-hander Ryan Brasier. Brasier was released by the Boston Red Sox in May and was signed as a free agent by the Dodgers.

In his two appearances for OKC, the 35-year-old Brasier struck out five of the nine batters he faced. Left-hander Bryan Hudson was returned to OKC after making one appearance with the Dodgers (his major-league debut).

In order to add Brasier to the 40-man roster, however, the Dodgers designated right-hander Andre Jackson for assignment. Once one of their more highly-regarded prospects, Jackson has been unable to establish himself at the major-league level and had a 6.62 ERA in seven appearances with the Dodgers this year.

Working against Jackson, the Dodgers had already used four of his five allotted options this year. The Dodgers expect to need some roster flexibility soon when players from the 60-day IL (most imminently reliever Daniel Hudson) have to be added back onto the roster.

TAYLOR PROGRESS

Utilityman Chris Taylor said he has felt some improvement in his injured right knee since getting a cortisone injection on Saturday. Taylor said he worked out at Dodger Stadium on the off day Monday and it was “still a little stiff.” Monday, he was able to hit in the batting cage, run and do some defensive work.

Taylor was available to pinch-hit Tuesday.

“I don’t think it’ll be an IL situation,” Roberts said. “Tomorrow, I think it’ll be the same role with more of a chance to play defense. And then when we get to the weekend, I think he should be a full go.”

TO BE DETERMINED

Right-hander Michael Grove has remained with the Dodgers even though he was officially optioned to the minor leagues on Friday and is expected to start Wednesday against the Angels.

“Michael Grove is here taxi-ing and he makes a lot of sense,” Roberts said.

In order to recall Grove this soon, the move will have to be paired with placing another pitcher on the IL.