No pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers has shown more efficiency than Julio Urías in the last two seasons, so much so that the Mexican will start on Opening Day 2023.
Indeed, the popular Californian ninth announced this Friday that the finalist for the National Cy Young in 2022 will take the ball to face the Arizona Rattlesnakes, in what will be his first start on an MLB opening day.
In fact, the official account of the majors reported that Julio Urías will be the twelfth Mexican to start an opening game with the Dodgers, joining the legendary Fernando Valenzuela and Ismael Valdez, among others.
In this way, the last ERA champion of the old circuit will place his name next to that of Hyun-Jin Ryu (2019), Dustin May (2020), Clayton Kershaw (2021) and Walker Buehler (2022) as the fifth starter to use the manager Dave Roberts in the last five Opening Day.
“El Culichi” has been part of Roberts’ rotation since 2021 when he registered 20-3 and a 2.96 ERA in 185.2 acts of work, while the following season he totaled a 17-7 mark with a 2.16 ERA in 175.0 innings.
The Dodgers’ idea is that Julio Urías, who has just played in the World Classic with Mexico, guides the pitching to win the West pennant again in the National, before trying to transcend in the postseason.