As the Los Angeles Dodgers starting rotation deals with a rash of injuries, Michael Grove began a rehab assignment one month after going on the 15-day injured list because of a right groin strain.
Grove allowed two solo home runs and three hits overall while collecting seven strikeouts and issuing just one walk over 4.1 innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City. Grove threw 64 pitches in the outing, including 41 for strike.
The right-hander finished his start by retiring the final seven batters faced.
Grove’s start for OKC came on the heels of being with on the Dodgers’ taxi squad for the beginning of their road trip. He was with the club in the event they needed a fresh arm in what’s been an overworked bullpen of late.
Grove was effectively replaced on the taxi squad by Wander Suero, who was activated when the Dodgers put Julio Urías on the 15-day IL due to a left hamstring strain.
The 26-year-old was poised to begin the season with OKC, but Ryan Pepiot’s oblique injury wound up creating an opening in the Dodgers’ Opening Day rotation. The right-hander made four starts before landing on the IL, going 0-1 with an 8.44 ERA and 1.75 WHIP.
Grove’s ERA is inflated due to allowing nine runs in a rough outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 9.
When will Michael Grove rejoin Dodgers rotation?
Prior to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirming Gavin Stone was going to take Dustin May’s spot in the rotation, he ruled out Grove being a candidate due to a lack of a rehab assignment.
Up until his start for Oklahoma City, Grove had only advanced to pitching in Arizona Complex League games. However, already stretching out to 64 pitches and with Urías now on the IL until at least June 3, Grove may soon rejoin the Dodgers rotation.
But it appears he’ll need to make at least one more rehab start for OKC, as Roberts said Stone and Bobby Miller are both sticking in the rotation for the time being.
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