Dodgers place Julio Urias on 10-day injured list

The Dodgers have placed left-hander Julio Urias on the 10-day injured list due to a left calf contusion.  The open roster spot will be filled by utilityman Zach McKinstry, who has been recalled from Triple-A.

Despite being hit by a pitch on his left calf during Friday night’s 6-5 Dodgers win over the Mets, the southpaw went on to pitch two more innings after sustaining the injury. Presuming that this IL placement is related only to that incident, this could be a pretty minimal absence for Urias, who could end up missing only one start due to an Aug. 23 off-day on the Dodgers’ schedule. It would leave Los Angeles even more short-handed in the rotation, but the Dodgers could conceivably cover Urias’ one missed outing with a bullpen game.

Amidst all of the Dodgers’ pitching injuries, Urias (who turned 25 on Aug. 12) has been a source of stability, tossing 139 2/3 innings over 24 starts. He also has an above-average 26.4% strikeout rate and an outstanding 5.3% walk rate while posting a 3.29  ERA. After playing a huge role in the Dodgers’ championship run last October, Urias looks poised to deliver more important innings for the  team this postseason.