The Los Angeles Dodgers optioned Michael Grove to Triple-A Oklahoma City and selected the contract of Emmet Sheehan for his MLB debut in the series opener against the San Francisco Giants.
Sheehan joins the Dodgers after going 4-1 with a 1.86 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in 12 games (10 starts) for Double-A Tulsa this season. He was named Texas League Pitcher of the Month for May after going 2-0 with a 0.36 ERA in five games (four starts).
Sheehan led the Texas League in ERA, WHIP, strikeouts (88) and batting average against. The Dodgers drafted Sheehan in the sixth round of the 2021 MLB Draft.
He’s impressed while rising through the Dodgers’ farm system, which included gaining recognition while pitching in the Arizona Fall League last year.
As for Grove, he heads to Oklahoma City for a second time this season. He was originally optioned in late March but got recalled to be part of the Dodgers’ Opening Day rotation because of injuries to Tony Gonsolin and Ryan pEPTIO.
Grove made two starts for OKC while on a rehab assignment last month. He’s shown some areas of improvement with the Dodgers this season but surrendered a career-high four home runs to the Chicago White Sox in a no-decision on Thursday.
With Sheehan replacing Grove on the active roster rather than a relief pitcher, the Dodgers still only have four starting pitchers. But because of upcoming off days, they theoretically could navigate being a starter down for the remainder of the month.
Grove is 0-2 with an 8.10 ERA and 1.60 WHIP across seven games (six starts) for L.A. this season.
Dave Roberts credits Michael Grove
Although the Dodgers faced a 4-0 deficit during Grove’s start, manager Dave Roberts credited him for still managing to get through five innings.
“Obviously they squared up four homers on him, but outside of that I thought he was pretty good,” Roberts said after the walk-off win. “His best inning was his last inning, that fifth inning. If he doesn’t get through that fifth inning, it’s probably a different game.
“For him to be able to get through five innings was big.”
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