Dodgers News: Michael Grove Battled Through Illness to Make First Start

Grove gave the Dodgers all he had on Monday night.

The Dodgers were nearly 0-3 on their potential number 5 starters. With Tony Gonsolin recovering from an ankle sprain and Ryan Pepiot sidelined with an oblique issue, LA called on Michael Grove to be the number 5 starter to open the season.

But an illness nearly made him miss the game.

He'd actually spent the last two days in bed, so the 4+ innings Dave Roberts got out of the rookie on Monday was all the more impressive.

“I got on some antibiotics, woke up this morning, called and said, yeah, I’m going to give it a shot as long as everything holds,” the right-hander told reporters after the game. “I was feeling OK, just more weak than anything. I haven’t been able to eat a whole lot. It didn’t affect me too much.”

If things bounced a little more in Grove's favor, he wouldn't have been charged with 4 runs, but what he gave LA was exactly what the club needed.

“He was able to throw his sides but he was low energy,” Roberts said. “There were a couple days he had to leave early, just to keep everyone else out of harm’s way and get his rest, stay hydrated. I just can’t say enough about him. That he made the start to not tax our bullpen too much too early was huge.”

Grove is slated to get his next start against the Diamondbacks in Arizona on Sunday. By then he should be back to normal.

.@mgrove_2 breaks down how the wind affected his pitching today and his love to be a #Dodger. pic.twitter.com/4Fm5opZFqR

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) April 4, 2023