Urías wraps up regular season with NL ERA title

LOS ANGELES -- Over the last eight years, Julio Urías has developed from a teenage phenom, to one of the top prospects in the game, to becoming a World Series champion in 2020.

Following a stellar 2022 season, Urías is now able to add a few more accolades to his list: Becoming the Dodgers’ staff ace and winning his first National League ERA title.

Urías made his final start of the regular season, allowing two runs over five innings in the Dodgers’ 5-2 loss to the Rockies on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. The Mexican left-hander wrapped up his campaign with a 2.16 ERA, leading the NL among qualified starters and finishing second in the Majors behind Astros right-hander Justin Verlander.

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“It’s another accomplishment for me,” Urías said of the ERA title. “You try to get better every year. I felt like last year was an incredible year, winning 20 games was something really important in my career. Winning the ERA title isn’t easy, you have to beat a lot of great pitchers. I feel very fortunate to have accomplished that.”

After being the lone 20-game winner last season, Urías took his game to another level this season. With injuries to Walker Buehler, Tony Gonsolin and Clayton Kershaw, Urías became the ace of the staff, performing at a high level every fifth or sixth game.

He was particularly dominant in the second half of the season after not being named an All-Star in July. Making an All-Star team isn’t necessarily a goal for Urías, but the left-hander felt some natural disappointment after getting snubbed for what appeared to be a deserved selection.

Instead of letting it affect his pitching, however, he got even stronger. Urías made 15 starts after July 10, the day All-Star teams were announced. During that span, he went 12-1 with a 1.27 ERA. Urías allowed two or fewer runs in all of those starts.

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“In these last two years I’ve gotten the opportunity to give 110 percent of what I have,” Urias said in Spanish. “I feel like the results have shown on the field and I feel really proud of myself and everyone around me that supports me, my coaches and trainers.”

With his second-half surge, Urías’ name has been in the middle of the discussion for NL Cy Young. Marlins’ right-hander Sandy Alcantara, who threw six complete games and has had a terrific season, remains the favorite to win the award. Over the last few months, however, Urías has now given the voters plenty to think about.

“Obviously I’m biased, but he gets my vote,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “He’s been an ace for us all year long, the consistency, the performance. I still value earned run average. There’s going to be a lot of fun debating for the next couple of months and he’s backed up a great year with another great one.”

Until then, Urías’ focus isn’t on an individual award. He has repeatedly said he just wants to help the Dodgers win another championship. Well, if the Dodgers are going to be the last team standing in November, it’ll probably be because of Urías’ left arm.

After being in a hybrid role in each of the last two postseasons, Urías will go into this October as the team’s ace for the first time in his young career. His first test will likely come in Game 1 of the NLDS against either the Padres or Mets, who will start a best-of-three Wild Card Series on Friday.

Regardless of the opponent, Urías believes he’s ready for the opportunity. It’s the one he’s been waiting patiently for a couple of years.

“I feel really happy with how this season has gone,” Urías said. “We just have to keep going and the hardest part is in front of us now, which is the postseason.”