The Dodgers optioned Michael Grove to Triple-A Oklahoma City, according to the transactions log at MLB.com. That brings to an end the battle for the fifth starter’s role, which had been down to Grove and Ryan Pepiot. Los Angeles also optioned lefty reliever Victor González.
Manager Dave Roberts indicated the Dodgers felt Pepiot outperformed Grove this spring (relayed by Fabian Ardaya of the Athletic). Pepiot certainly did a better job keeping runs off the board, allowing five runs in 13 2/3 frames. Grove was tagged for ten runs across 16 2/3 innings, albeit with a quality 17:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Pepiot also fared very well in that regard, punching out 19 while walking five.
L.A. will turn to Pepiot as the #5 starter behind Julio Urías, Clayton Kershaw, Noah Syndergaard and Dustin May to open the year. The Dodgers will be without Tony Gonsolin for a few weeks due to an ankle sprain, opening the path for the two younger hurlers to battle for a starting job.
Pepiot, a fairly recent top prospect, made his big league debut last season. The 25-year-old started seven out of nine appearances, working to a quality 3.47 ERA. He punched out an above-average 26.3% of batters faced but issued walks at an untenable 16.9% clip. He’d kept the walks to a more manageable 9.8% rate while striking out over 30% of opposing hitters in 91 1/3 innings in Oklahoma City.
Victor González was a flash in the pan. He’s dunzo
He’s dealt with injuries dingus. It’s not like it was a sudden decline
Mr big – he had one good year – 2020. After that he hasn’t proved much (even in the minors).
Well, either way Dodgers are stacked with young players, and they are wizards at getting the best out of pictures, young and old
Those beautiful pictures! I always loved photography and art
You should change your name from Damascus to foreskin
To the surprise of nobody, I hope.
LA’s pitching is stacked. Looking forward to watching Thor’s resurgence this season.
Hopefully that resurgence starts soon. It hasn’t happened yet.
It’s spring training son, chillax
Lol, you’re on fire!
Who? Starting 5 would be pretty solid when Gonsolin gets back. But the then again, that’s when Kershaw will need his 2-3 weeks off on the IL ;p
Maybe the Dodgers thought that this was the move they needed to win their first real World Series since 1988.
cool story troll
And I am sure if your team had won in 2020, they would have given back their trophy. And you would have been great with that.
They’re all my teams. In the situation of 2020, the flag should not be displayed for it and neither should the trophy. And I hate the fact that that is how the drought was ‘broken’. I would have rather waited another 10 years for a real 1 instead of accepting that 2020 garbage award.
Thanks @KD and your Astro-loving burner account
You need help. I would bet your kids don’t have much to do with you.
When your screen name is this, you’re a little obsessed with them.
Actually I haven’t watched anything remotely close to a full MLB game since 2007.
Then why portray yourself as some kind of baseball expert?
I follow the game in general but it’s way too boring to watch. Given my history in terms of playing the game from age 6, it goes to show how baseball is on the way out in general- if I can’t stand watching it, then new people to the game (especially adults) have no chance liking it. Also, I’m the guy who predicted that Mookie Betts would be 16 for 19 in SB in 2019. I’m the guy who predicted that Bryce Harper would miss 63 games in 2022. I’m the guy who predicted that Michael Taylor would have a .653 OPS in 2021. Etc, etc., etc.
You predicted all those numbers exactly to a T? Well then tell me how long I will live because that’s incredible. The game is not boring. The game is not made for today’s instant gratification. It’s a beautiful game. You just have to appreciate the little things man.
Exactly, it’s like a chess match being played out.
Watch you MOUTH, boy.
How long has it been since you were diagnosed with ADHD? Even with meds you cannot focus your attention on something for +/-2 hrs?
Still_No_Real_WS_Title_For_LA_Since_1988
You’re still making us laugh despite your username change. Thank you.
But the thing is, no one cares about you or your opinion. So baseball is definitely not “on the way out”
You know what’s funny is the pathetic braves lost to the Dodgers in 2020, as hard as they tried they were losers. Dodgers own the Braves, we wipe our asses with you guys.
No, Braves fans wipe their asses with YOU.
And watch your MOUTH.
It’s hard for him to watch his mouth with his foot stuck in it…
Grove would be a starter on many teams
Not sure many teams would pencil him into the rotation just yet. He still seems pretty rough to me.
The Dodgers and the Rays sign and develop pitching. Not surprised they will have still another option at AAA than could start for most other teams. But in this day and age of forearm tightness and stress reactions and oblique strains, seems like even 7 starters is not enough.
EasternLeagueVeteran;
7-8 starters were needed for teams since at least the 80’s, maybe the late 70’s. Since maybe 2010 with the increased foul balls batters are encouraged and trained to hit (to tire out pitchers and maybe get a “mistake” pitch to hit), pitchers are putting more and more torque on their arms, shoulders, forearms, wrists, etc. to get more spin and velocity on their pitches. Consequently they’re getting injured at astronomical rates. And that’s not counting pitchers that win a starting job out of ST and fall flat during the season even if they’re aren’t hurt.
Teams need to count on using at least 10 starters during the year. Some up from the minors, some acquired via trade, waivers, DFA’s, etc.
Might add that all teams go though at least 30 pitchers during a season as well as at least 22-24 position players. Who makes the roster out of ST doesn’t mean a thing. Transactions for most teams happen at least 3 times a week during the season. Depth charts literally change daily.
Will a Dodgers fan explain to me why Julio Urias isnt signed to a mega extension already? He’s young, awesome, and has overcome shoulder surgery and major eye troubles. I love Andrew Friedman, a Houston guy, but Im in disbelief. What is the thinking here fellas?
Luxury Taxes
Super agent
Well his agent is Scott Boras
Friedman offers extensions only very rarely and big ones almost never. It isn’t about Boras, it’s about Friedman.
How do you know that. Is it possible that Boras has told his client that he will not negotiate an extension until after he hears offers from other teams in the off season. Plus, there’s a reason why LA has been the model franchise for the last 10 years.
I know that from watching the Dodgers. Go ahead, name a big extension Friedman has made, other than Betts. Good luck!
Boras no more hypnotizes his clients than he does the team owners. If a player gets an extension offer from his team his agent can’t refuse to talk about it unless he wants to become that player’s former agent. In the case of Urias, he wasn’t going to get one anyway. See above.
Really? Dodgers print money. Losing Urias will cripple them. Especially if they dont get Ohtani next year
Because Julio wants OUT of LA.
Honestly the one time Dodgers don’t hand out extensions, they did it with Betts, and it’s with one of the premium players in the game. Urias should be locked up by now, he’s their ace now.
Betts is the only player ever to get a significant extension from Friedman. Most likely Urías will get a QO and sign somewhere else.
I tend to agree. Unfortunately, Boras is his agent. The Dodgers will make a fair and competitive offer, but the only way Urias stays with LA is if he takes less than what another team offers. Boras tends to get teams to overpay for his clients.
It won’t be a fair or competitive offer if the player gets a better one from another team. There’s no prize for second place, and Boras doesn’t have the power to hypnotize anyone. It’s pay to play.
Huh? what does “no prize for second place” mean? Should the Dodgers just outbid everyone for every player? I trust Friedman.
It means making a second-best offer is making a losing offer. If a team wants to sign a free agent, they have to outbid everyone else, by definition. I trust Friedman to look after the financial interests of his employers. The fans, not so much. Not at all, really.
They have young pitching coming up for days. If Julio leaves it’s because they are comfortable with their young starters.
It should be about having a solid 1-3, a requirement to have any hope in the postseason. Even if Buehler comes back strong next season (a long shot), they still won’t have that without Urias. Nobody coming up looks better than middle of rotation. If Urias leaves it will be because they didn’t want to pay him — full stop.