Los Angeles Dodgers injuries have mounted since Spring Training, and the list grew on Thursday night when Michael Grove left his start against the Chicago Cubs in the bottom of the fourth inning due to a right groin strain. He was replaced by Phil Bickford.
Grove issued a leadoff walk and then allowed a double to Trey Mancini. Grove shook his right leg after delivering a penultimate pitch to Mancini.
Following the double, Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior went out for a mound visit. He quickly summoned for a trainer, who had a brief conversation with Grove before he came out of the game.
The 26-year-old was looking to generate some momentum by putting together a second consecutive strong start. Grove dealt with strep throat in his 2023 debut and still felt the effects of it in an ensuing start.
Grove was back to 100% when facing the Cubs last week, and he held them to just one run over 5.2 innings. He attributed some of the success from that outing to putting more trust behind a reworked slider.
On Thursday, Grove allowed a solo home run to Cody Bellinger and was charged for a second run when Bickford allowed a single to Nico Hoerner.
Dodgers options if Michael Grove has injury
Should Grove need to spend time on the 15-day injured list, the Dodgers may be forced to activate Tony Gonsolin or tap further into their organizational depth. Likely candidates in that scenario are Matt Andriese, Dylan Covey, Robbie Erlin and Gavin Stone.
Ryan Pepiot, who was initially named the temporary fifth starter in place of a Gonsolin, began the season on the 15-day IL because of a left oblique strain. Pepiot has yet to start throwing a baseball.
Gonsolin made a rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday and had been planned for another in five or six days.
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