Fantasy Fallout: Julio Urias Can be a Temporary Fix for Fantasy Owners
Here are the fantasy repercussions following the Los Angeles Dodgers' decision to call up prized pitching prospect Julio Urias:
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Urias, 19, will become the fourth pitcher in the past 35 years to make his MLB debut before his 20th birthday, joining Jose Rijo, Dwight Gooden and Felix Hernandez; that's some elite company. He will start Friday against the Mets.
The teenage left-hander toyed with Triple-A batters in a hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League this season, posting a 1.10 ERA and a 0.78 WHIP. He allowed just 24 hits in 41 innings while striking out 44 batters against eight walks over seven starts.
Urias is considered the No. 2 prospect in all of baseball by MLB.com. He isn't the most imposing figure on the mound, standing at just six-feet tall and weighing 215 pounds. However, he can still crank his fastball into the mid 90s and has a repeatable, yet deceptive, delivery. He also has a plus curveball and a plus change-up that he can throw for strikes.

The Dodgers recalled Urias to start Friday's game because original starter Alex Wood is dealing with tricep soreness. Since Urias is still 19 and the "Super Two" deadline isn't until June, the Dodgers will likely send Urias back down to the minor leagues after Friday's start in order to hold back his salary arbitration eligibility for another season.
Even though he is likely up for just one start, pick up Urias in any re-draft or keeper league where he's available. Pitchers often flourish in their big league debuts, even ones with less ability than Urias. It can be tough for hitters to face a pitcher they have never seen before.
The 23rd-ranked Mets offense will be his opposition on Friday night. This shouldn't intimidate anyone considering picking up Urias. He will, however, be in tough to pick up a win with RHP Jacob deGrom toeing the rubber for the Mets. For those in FAAB leagues, owners should be willing to use 25 percent of their budget to acquire Urias, or more if they have room to stash him.
If you already own Urias in a non-keeper league, it would be smart to attempt to trade him if someone in your league is unaware that this will likely be just a spot start. Even when Urias is in the majors for good, he won't be able to help your fantasy team down the stretch. He has never thrown more than 87 2/3 innings in the minor leagues, so he will likely be shut down at some point.