Dodgers Vs. Blue Jays Game Preview: Michael Grove Starts With Chance For Series Sweep

The Los Angeles Dodgers have won six games in a row and now look to complete a sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Sunday afternoon.

Michael Grove makes his first start of the season in what will be a bullpen game for the Dodgers. He enters with a 6.00 ERA, 2.76 FIP, 1.33 WHIP and 10.8 strikeouts per nine in 15 innings pitched over nine appearances.

Grove is traditionally a starter but has not opened a game since Aug. 5, 2023, against the San Diego Padres. He is 2-3 with a 5.71 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 18 career starts as opposed to 1-0 with a 5.73 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 16 relief appearances.

The Blue Jays counter with Kevin Gausman, who is coming off his best outing of the season. He took a tough-luck loss after allowing three unearned runs and seven hits in 6.2 innings of work against the Kansas City Royals.

Gasuman hopes to build on that performance as he has gotten off to an uncharacteristically slow start this season. He carries an 0-3 record, 5.57 ERA, 4.30 FIP and 1.57 WHIP in 21 innings over five games.

Gausman, who previously pitched for the San Francisco Giants, is 1-3 with a 3.99 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 9.9 strikeouts per nine in eight career appearances (seven starts) against the Dodgers.

With the Dodgers traveling to Arizona after Sunday’s matchup, Austin Barnes is starting behind the plate to give Will Smith a day off.

Dodgers lineup

SS: Mookie Betts
DH: Shohei Ohtani
1B: Freddie Freeman
LF: Teoscar Hernández
3B: Max Muncy
RF: Andy Pages
CF: James Outman
2B: Gavin Lux
C: Austin Barnes

Blue Jays lineup

RF: George Springer
DH: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
SS: Bo Bichette
1B: Justin Turner
LF: Davis Schneider
CF: Daulton Varsho
3B: Isiah Kiner-Falefa
C: Alejandro Kirk
2B: Cavan Biggio