Michael Grove improves as Dodgers’ rotation decision looms, Julio Urías nears return

The most important pitches thrown off the Dodger Stadium mound Saturday happened when the stands were still empty, the gates still closed.

Hours before the Dodgers’ 6-3 loss to the New York Yankees, injured left-hander Julio Urías completed his biggest step yet in his recovery from a hamstring strain. During a roughly 30-pitch bullpen session, the club’s opening day starter showed few limitations, using his entire pitch mix while building up to about 80% intensity.

“He was good today,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

If all goes to plan, Urías could return to action as soon as next weekend in Philadelphia. That would not only represent his first start in almost a month but also leave the banged-up Dodgers with a very different kind of rotation question than they have faced for much of this season.

Since the start of the season, the team has been a starting pitcher or two short.

Tony Gonsolin and Ryan Pepiot picked up injuries in spring training. Gonsolin has since returned from a sprained ankle, but Pepiot remains sidelined because of an oblique strain.

The Yankees’ Jake Bauers drops his bat after he hit a two-run, second-inning home run. Bauers also had a two-run blast in the fourth.

(Ashley Landis / Associated Press)

Last month, consecutive injuries to Urías and Dustin May forced the Dodgers to dig even deeper into their organizational depth chart, prompting call-ups for Bobby Miller and the since-optioned Gavin Stone.

And another rookie right-hander, Michael Grove, finally returned from a groin strain Saturday, giving up four runs in five innings in the Dodgers’ loss to the Yankees — who prevailed behind six dominant innings from Gerrit Cole, four home runs from their offense and a spectacular eighth-inning catch from Aaron Judge in which the reigning American League most valuable player went through the bullpen gate in right field.

“Obviously, he made a couple mistakes,” Roberts said of Grove. “But I thought overall, it was really good.”

But now, with Urías’ return on the horizon, the Dodgers will have a rare surplus on the mound. Between now and next weekend, the club will have to pick a current rotation member to be replaced by the left-handed ace.

And though a final decision hasn’t been made, the evaluation process is well underway.

“That conversation is gonna happen,” Roberts said before the game. “Once we get to that point, we’ll have to make some decisions.”

The most obvious candidates are Grove, Miller and Noah Syndergaard.

Yankees star Aaron Judge connects for a sixth-inning solo home run.

(Ashley Landis / Associated Press)

Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge crashes through the outfield fence as he makes an eighth-inning catch.

(Harry How / Getty Images)

Grove showed improved stuff in his return Saturday. His fastball averaged a career-best 96.5 mph, following some work with the Dodgers’ minor league pitching staff during his rehabilitation. His combination of curveballs and sliders, meanwhile, helped him rack up seven strikeouts and 13 swings and misses.

“They didn’t take a lot of good swings against him,” said Roberts, who confirmed Grove will start again next week in Philadelphia. “I think he’s got a lot of confidence.”

The only problem: Grove gave up a pair of two-run home runs to the Yankees’ Jake Bauers, hanging a slider in the second inning before throwing a fastball down the middle in the fourth. In five major league starts this year, he has an 8.14 ERA.

“I made a lot of really good pitches and made some bad pitches that I got punished for,” Grove said. “Plenty to learn from. Plenty to be happy about as well.”

Miller has been an even bigger rookie sensation since he made his big league debut last month. In two starts so far, he has given up just two runs in 11 innings and struck out nine.

He will get another big test, slated to start the series finale against the Yankees on ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball.”

But to this point, he has lived up to his top-prospect hype — even after making only eight career triple-A starts.

“It’s a big stage,” Roberts said of Miller’s upcoming start. “I know he can handle it. There’s gonna be some extra adrenaline. You’re seeing [Giancarlo] Stanton and Judge in the batter’s box. It’s gonna bring out the best in Bobby.”

The Dodgers’ Chris Taylor celebrates with David Peralta after scoring on Miguel Vargas’ seventh-inning triple.

(Ashley Landis / Associated Press)

Then there is Syndergaard.

The $13-million offseason signing has suffered a disastrous start to his Dodgers career, posting a 6.54 ERA through his first 11 starts.

On Friday, Roberts confirmed Syndergaard will get start No. 12 this coming week in Cincinnati. A bad one there, however, and his advantage of experience over the two rookies could be all but void.

“When he makes that start, I’m gonna feel the same way I do every time he takes the mound,” an optimistic Roberts said Friday. “That he’s gonna pitch well and it’s gonna turn.”

It better. Because after scrambling through the opening couple of months, the Dodgers will finally have the luxury of excess starting pitching soon. And barring another injury before then, someone will have to make way in order for Urías to return.

Trayce Thompson set for IL

Trayce Thompson strained his oblique on a checked swing Saturday and will likely go on the injured list, according to Roberts.

“I feel for him,” Roberts said of Thompson, who drew a walk in his pinch-hit at-bat and had been showing improvement after ending an 0-for-39 slump last week. “I’m sure he’s really disappointed.”