The Los Angeles Dodgers placed Michael Grove on the 15-day injured list due to right lat tightness and recalled Bryan Hudson from Triple-A Oklahoma City prior to Sunday’s game against the San Diego Padres.
Grove is on the IL for a second time this season as he previously missed a stretch from April into early June because of a right groin strain. Grove’s latest IL stint begins one day after he filled an opener role at Petco Park.
Although Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said last week that Grove’s next time pitching would be out of the bullpen, the team instead decided on having him start. Grove struck out the first four batters faced and was removed after allowing a one-out single in the second inning.
Overall this season, Grove is 2-3 with a 6.61 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in 15 games (12 starts). Grove was part of the Dodgers’ Opening Day rotation because of injuries to Tony Gonsolin and Ryan Pepiot. Gonsolin has since returned, but Pepiot only recently was activated off the 60-day IL after completing a rehab assignment for his left oblique strain.
Pepiot was optioned to Oklahoma City and is viewed among the candidates to get recalled if the Dodgers find themselves in need of a starting pitcher at some point.
Meanwhile, Grove could shift into a relief role once he’s activated. Clayton Kershaw is expected to come off the IL this week and Walker Buehler continues to target a September return.
Bryan Hudson returns to Dodgers bullpen
Hudson is back up for a third stint with the Dodgers. He’s pitched to a 9.82 ERA in just two appearances thus far during that span. The 26-year-old made his MLB debut against the San Francisco Giants on June 17.
Hudson last was with the Dodgers in July before getting optioned as the corresponding move to Yency Almonte returning from paternity leave.
With Oklahoma City, the left-handed reliever is 5-0 with a 2.61 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 41.1 innings across 36 games. Hudson last pitched for OKC on August 3, when he threw a scoreless inning.
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