Dodgers News: LA Calling Up Spot Starter for Wednesday in Arizona

When Clayton Kershaw and Dustin May returned from the injured list, the Dodgers planned to use a six-man rotation for most, if not all, of the rest of the season. Unfortunately, just as everyone got healthy, someone got unhealthy, with Tony Gonsolin hitting the IL with a forearm strain.

But manager Dave Roberts still likes the idea of a six-man rotation, and they’re going to go with it again this time around the rotation.

Dave Roberts said Michael Grove will start for #Dodgers Wednesday unless something forces them to change course

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) September 14, 2022

Ryan Pepiot has been a frequent option for the Dodgers as the spot starter this year, but with the new CBA limiting the number of times a player can be optioned in one season, Pepiot would have to stay on the active roster (or the big-league injured list) if they were to call him up again.

So instead, Los Angeles turns to Michael Grove again, who started and went 4.2 innings in Miami a little over two weeks ago. Grove’s scheduled start on Wednesday would be his third career start. He doesn’t yet have a decision and his ERA is 4.82, although 60 percent of his earned runs came in a one-inning relief outing between his first two starts.

Some have wondered why the Dodgers haven’t called on top pitching prospect Bobby Miller, who is pitching pretty well for Triple-A Oklahoma City. A lot of factors weigh into that decision, but the number one reason is likely because he’s not on the 40-man roster. Calling up Grove is as simple as optioning Andre Jackson, which will likely happen on Wednesday. To call up Miller, they would have to either DFA someone or put someone on the 60-day injured list, and there are no obvious candidates for either treatment.

The spot start for Grove will combine with Thursday’s off-day to give Dustin May two extra days between starts, which is definitely part of Roberts’ goal in working May back into October shape. With the division in hand and even the race for best record in MLB in pretty good shape, the Dodgers can afford to focus on October.

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