The Los Angeles Dodgers starting rotation has been an overall strong point for their team, but their depth has been tested with multiple pitchers going on the injured list.
Tony Gonsolin returned from roughly a month-long absence to solidify the staff, but Ryan Pepiot has remained on the IL since the start of the season. Gonsolin’s return also came due to Michael Grove suffering a right groin strain.
The lack of options pushed Gavin Stone into a spot start last week against the Philadelphia Phillies.
While Pepiot and Grove still have some time to go before they can return, both started facing hitters at Camelback Ranch in Arizona, per Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
Grove (groin) and Ryan Pepiot (oblique) are throwing to hitters at Camelback Ranch but are not ready to start rehab assignments, according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
Pepiot was expected to open the season as the Dodgers’ fifth starter while Gonsolin recovered from a left ankle sprain, but his oblique injury pushed Grove into the Opening Day rotation. Pepiot is currently on the 60-day injured list and not eligible to be activated until the end of May.
Last season, Pepiot made seven starts for the Dodgers, going 3-0 with a 3.47 ERA across 36.1 innings pitched. For Triple-A Oklahoma City, he posted a 2.56 ERA and 1.07 WHIP across 91.1 innings over 17 starts.
When Grove suffered his injury, that forced the Dodgers to bring Gonsolin back sooner than they would have hoped.
In four starts this season, Grove is 0-1 with an 8.44 ERA and 1.75 WHIP, but nine of his earned runs came during a rough outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 9 and he was more effective in his other starts.
Dodgers injuries: Noah Syndergaard’s finger issue
Prior to throwing his first pitch of the game on Tuesday, Noah Syndergaard was checked on by third-base umpire Alfonso Marquez. Syndergaard then walked off the field with a Dodgers trainer in order to receive treatment for a blister/cut on his right index finger.
He was removed from the game at the start of the second inning and a SportsNet LA camera captured Syndergaard showing his bloodied index finger in the dugout. The Dodgers’ initial statement on Syndergaard coming out of the game was due to a cut on his finger.
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