Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts Reveals Target Return Date for Injured Ace Julio Urias

Reinforcements are on the way!

The Dodgers should be getting some much need reinforcements in their starting rotation this weekend as Julio Urías is set to return. Urías has missed time with a hamstring injury but is expected to rejoin the rotation against Philadelphia on Sunday. 

Julio Urías threw two innings of live BP, then two more in the bullpen

Dave Roberts said they expect him to start on Sunday in Philadelphia. TBD who he will replace in the rotation

— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) June 6, 2023

This is great news for the Dodgers as their starting rotation has just been decimated by injuries of late. Urías has been special for Los Angeles over the last two seasons, but at times has been prone to being lit up this season.

He still is a very effective pitcher and arguably the most important member of the starting rotation for this team, but has posted a 5-4 record with a 4.39 ERA, 53 strikeouts and a WAR of 0.5 this season.

Getting Urías back will be a welcome sight for the franchise but it does mean that some roster decisions will need to be made. The team isn't going to keep six starters so someone will be cut from the rotation. The two names that come to mind are Michael Grove and Noah Syndergaard.

Syndergaard has been the talk of Los Angeles in a bad way lately. The veteran pitcher has really struggled since joining the team. He is scheduled to start Wednesday against the Cincinnati Reds in what could be his final start if he underperforms again. Grove has looked better in his last few starts and the team may want to keep him around to have a larger sample size of his film. 

With Urías coming back, it could be curtains for Syndergaard. He makes the most logical sense unfortunately, and while Los Angeles had hoped for his production, it hasn't come to fruition. 

A rotation of Urías, Clayton Kershaw, Tony Gonsolin, Bobby Miller and Grove could be something that Dodger fans get used to as the season goes on. But for now, we still have a few days before Urías returns and the team has some decisions to make.