BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues
OWNED IN: 7% Fleaflicker
ANALYSIS: The Dodgers are promoting top prospect Julio Urias for Friday’s game against the Mets, and have announced that he will be taking the start away from Alex Wood, who is dealing with soreness in his triceps. Urias, a 19-year-old left-hander purchased from Mexico in 2012, will be the youngest pitcher to debut since Felix Hernandez in 2005.
Urias is the No. 2 prospect in all of baseball and has the stuff to back it up. He has strong command of three plus pitches — a fastball that can touch 97 mph, a devastating curveball and a knee-buckling changeup — and has used them to strike out opposing hitters at an astonishing 29.5% clip over parts of four years in the minors. In 41 IP in Triple-A so far this season, he has posted a 1.10 ERA, a 0.78 WHIP and 44 K.
Urias will make his debut against a Mets team that owns the highest strikeout rate against lefties in the league and has three of its key offensive players on the disabled list. He is worth an add in just about all formats— even if he is not in your starting lineup, you’re going to want to hold onto him in case he performs at a high level and remains with the big league club. The Dodgers have reportedly discussed using him as a reliever later in the season, which would obviously impact his fantasy value, but if he succeeds in his trial run on Friday, it may be tough to keep him out of the rotation. While there is no guarantee his first stint in the majors will be permanent — mostly considering the Dodgers' depth at starting pitcher — Urias is a can’t-miss talent and should be treated as such— especially in keeper or dynasty leagues.
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