Dodgers to start Julio Urias in Game 3 of NLCS

The Dodgers plan to start left-hander Julio Urias in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the Braves on Wednesday, J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group was among those to report. Meantime, they’re turning to Tony Gonsolin on Tuesday as a result of Clayton Kershaw’s back spasms.

The Dodgers, who finished the regular season with the majors’ top record (43-17), are unexpectedly in a hole right now after dropping Game 1 by a 5-1 score on Monday. That means if Gonsolin & Co. don’t get the job done Tuesday night, Urias, 24, could be facing an immense amount of pressure in his upcoming start.

Urias, of course, is not a postseason greenhorn. He has already amassed 23 2/3 playoff innings and delivered a 3.42 ERA for his career, and he has thrown eight frames without allowing an earned run in two outings this fall. Before that, Urias gave the Dodgers 55 innings of 3.27 ERA/3.72 FIP ball with 7.36 K/9 and 2.95 BB/9 in 11 regular-season appearances and 10 starts.