Dodgers’ Urias strives to hold down Orioles
The Dodgers didn’t count on Julio Urias to assume a key role in 2016. Given the increasingly fragile nature of Dave Roberts’ staff, though, the 19-year-old phenom has suddenly become indispensable.
Urias’ greatest challenge yet arrives this evening. AL East-leading Baltimore waltzes into Chavez Ravine for the opener of a three-game set, with a 9:10 p.m. ET first pitch on the West Coast. Online sports book BetDSI is buying into the rookie hurler, giving Los Angeles odds of -171 to prevail. As for the Orioles, they’re regarded as +151 underdogs.
Buck Showalter’s bunch just absorbed a sweep at the hands of Seattle. Even so, it’s a squad whose mashing capabilities are beyond reproach. The O’s pace the junior circuit in homers (128) and slugging percentage (.469).
We’re extremely curious to see what Manny Machado (.329/.384/.592), Mark Trumbo (.281/.329/.556) and the rest of the crew can accomplish vs. Urias. MLB.com’s fourth-best overall prospect secured his first MLB triumph last week, limiting the Brewers to two runs and a pair of base knocks across six innings. He flourished for the better part of June, really, yielding two runs or fewer in five of seven starts.
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Baltimore obviously presents an entirely different degree of difficulty. At the same time, we don’t envision Urias suddenly hitting the skids either. Look for the Orioles to inflict just enough damage to come out on top at Dodger Stadium.
MONDAY MLB FREE PICK: ORIOLES +1.5
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