Tony Gonsolin was scheduled to start for the Los Angeles Dodgers in their Cactus League matchup against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday, but got scratched after spraining his left ankle during a workout earlier in the week.
Michael Grove took the mound in his place and made the most of the opportunity. He allowed just one hit over three scoreless innings and collected two strikeouts.
In three appearances this spring, Grove has posted an impressive 1.50 ERA and 0.33 WHIP across six innings of work. With Gonsolin in jeopardy of beginning the regular season on the injured list, Grove could pitch his way onto the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster.
The 26-year-old isn’t focused on that possibility at this time but will continue doing his part to ensure he breaks camp with the team, per SportsNet LA:
“I mean, we still have what, three or four weeks until Opening Day? I’m just going to keep doing what I can here to get myself as good as I can be by Opening Day, and let the chips fall where they may.”
In addition to Grove, Ryan Pepiot figures to get a look for a spot in the Dodgers starting rotation if Gonsolin isn’t ready for Opening Day. Pepiot is scheduled to start for the team on Thursday, and so far, has posted a 3.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 15.0 strikeouts per nine in three innings of work.
As for Grove, he allowed one run in his 2023 debut and followed that up by throwing two perfect innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks last week. “I thought Grove was really good. I thought Michael was great,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said at the time.
Dave Roberts believes Michael Grove will benefit from experience
Grove was among the players who had a chance to spend some time with the Dodgers last season, and Roberts believes that experience will benefit him in the long run.
“Just getting a little experience and familiarity with the unknown, kind of checking those boxes should allow for a step forward in growth,” Roberts noted. “I definitely think that we feel those guys are all in the same bucket.”
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