This Julio Urias injury update is coming at the absolute worst time

The Los Angeles Dodgers are sending starting pitcher Julio Urias to the injured list while already dealing with key absences in their pitching staff.

The Dodgers hopes of catching the Giants at the top of the NL West just took a hit.

Starting pitcher Julio Urias, who leads the majors in wins this season, is heading to the injured list with a bruised left calf, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.

Urias was hit by a pitch in the calf during Friday’s game against the Mets. While he was able to continue the outing, he’s getting time off to let the calf heal up.

“More pragmatically, this gives him a 10-day break in the midst of heaviest workload in his career,’ Plunkett tweeted.

Julio Urias is heading to the IL with the Dodgers already hit hard by injuries

The timing for this is pretty harsh. Los Angeles has won eight of their last 11 games. However, their pitching staff is taking a beating on the injury front.

Clayton Kershaw and Tony Gonsolin are slowly making their way back from injuries, but they won’t be able to contribute just yet. Trevor Bauer is still embroiled in legal troubles, that only seem to get worse, and there should be zero expectation of his return. Dustin May and Jimmy Nelson are out for the season. Danny Duffy won’t be back until mid-September.

Relievers Victor Gonzalez, Joe Kelly, Garrett Cleavinger, Darien Nunez and Scott Alexander are on the injured list as well.

If this is to give Urias a break, it would make more sense without all the other absences. The Dodgers need to do right by Urias, especially if it means keeping him from picking up worse injuries down the line. Still, going 10 days without him could really set the club back.