LOS ANGELES -- To put it simply, Julio Urías is having a career year on the mound.

Urías, 25, is in his first season without any sort of pitching limits and he’s shown why he was such a coveted prospect in his ascent through the Minor Leagues. The left-handed starter has nearly doubled his previous career high in innings pitched in a single season with 150 2/3, while also logging double-digit wins for the first time in his career. Urías has pitched at least five innings in all but one of his 26 starts this season and has a 3.17 ERA.

His growth from a young pitcher at the start of his career to Major League Baseball’s wins leader has impressed his skipper, who has witnessed Urías' progress since his debut.

“I think he's found the way and learned to navigate, to limit damage,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Any pitcher that takes the mound on a given night, there's going to be stressful situations [and] innings.”

Urías has stepped up in some of the biggest moments for the Dodgers in the last couple of seasons, most notably when he closed out the 2020 World Series. Now, in his first season as a full-time starter, Urías is one of the team’s most reliable arms for a club trying reclaim the National League West title.

"[With Monday night's start], he gives up a couple solo homers, but that still doesn't affect the outcome,” Roberts said. “I think in years past, the traffic that was there and not being able to put the fire out [was an issue]. [That’s what] has shown his growth for me.”

September roster expansions
With the start of September and the expansion of active rosters from 26 to 28 players, the Dodgers added infielder/outfielder Zach McKinstry and right-handed reliever Ryan Meisinger ahead of the series finale against the Braves.

“Zach gives us some versatility, left-handed bat gives us some versatility,” Roberts said. “I know we got Meisinger on the roster today and, in a situation where it makes sense, we'll deploy him. There's been a lot of roster manipulation to kind of get through this, but adding two players was certainly helpful.”

To make room on the 40-man roster for Meisinger and right-hander Jake Jewell, both of whom were claimed off waivers from the Cubs on Tuesday, the Dodgers moved infielder Sheldon Neuse and outfielder Luke Raley to the 60-day injured list. Both were on the seven-day injured list with Triple-A Oklahoma City.

McKinstry’s last stint with the Dodgers was in mid-August, but he was optioned a day after his callup on Aug. 15.

Meisinger appeared in seven games for the Cubs this season, allowing 10 earned runs in 7 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. He spent the first few months of the year with Triple-A Iowa after he signed a free-agent contract with Chicago in the offseason.

Meisinger’s contract was selected after he pitched 29 2/3 innings with a 4.25 ERA and 1.35 WHIP for Iowa.

Childhood Cancer Awareness Day
In honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Day, all on-field personnel across Major League Baseball will wear gold ribbon decals and wristbands in every game on Wednesday. This is the sixth consecutive year that MLB and all 30 teams participated in the league-wide efforts, which are held during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

The Dodgers -- along with AJ Pollock, Brusdar Graterol, Trea Turner, Mookie Betts and Chris Taylor -- hosted a virtual party for young patients at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital who participated in games, activities and giveaways.

The Dodgers will also have a UCLA Children’s Hospital patient participate in the ceremonial first pitch on Wednesday in the series finale against the Braves, as the patient is now fundraising for a cure after finishing treatment and beating cancer.