Dodgers News: Latest Julio Urias Injury Update Spells Trouble for LA
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urias has been on the injured list for about a week now with the hamstring strain he suffered in the third inning of his last start against the St. Louis Cardinals.
It didn't seem like a major issue, but one the Dodgers wanted to give him two weeks to work through, hence placing him on the 15-day IL.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has provided updates on Urias all week, saying he's on schedule to return next weekend when the team welcomes the New York Yankees into Dodger Stadium. However, on Thursday, MLB insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post had other ideas.
Heyman, I assume from sources, says that Urias may still be about a month away from returning.
"Julio Urias has begun to play catch, but may still be three to four weeks away from returning to the Dodgers. The left-hander is such a gamer, he pitched against the Cardinals last week at less than 100 percent, a mistake."
This would go completely against the timeline that Roberts and the Dodgers have provided, so someone's not telling the truth here.
Urias is scheduled to throw a bullpen session in Tampa Bay this weekend, so we'll see how that goes and if we get an updated return timeline from the Dodgers.
However, if Urias isn't able to return for a month, that would give a much longer big league stay for both rookies Gavin Stone and Bobby Miller.
Walker Buehler Update
Additionally, Heyman provided a quick update on injured Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler, although it's not much fresh information. He says Buehler is hoping to return to the Dodgers in September, "but it wouldn’t necessarily be as a starter."
That's not anything we don't already know, as it would make much more sense for the Dodgers to bring Buehler out of the bullpen to not rush him back from his second Tommy John surgery. Buehler could end up being a key piece of the postseason bullpen, potentially even playing a role similar to the one that Urias played in 2020 when the Dodgers went on to win the World Series.
