Bobby Miller endured the worst start of his big league career before the All-Star break, which led to the Los Angeles Dodgers optioning him to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Miller made his first start since the demotion this past Saturday, allowing three hits and collecting four strikeouts in five scoreless innings.
“It was a good step in the right direction as I dug a little bit more with our guys,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
The right-hander is scheduled to make another start with the Oklahoma City Baseball Club on Friday, after which the Dodgers will evaluate his next steps. “Bobby is going to make another one with OKC and then after that we’ll have more clarity,” Roberts added.
Roberts reiterated that the Dodgers expect Miller to rejoin their rotation at some point this season. “Absolutely. I don’t know when, but we are absolutely counting on him,” he said.
Miller was instrumental to the Dodgers’ success last season and the team hopes he will be able to return to that level after spending some time with the organization’s player development staff before joining Oklahoma City.
Miller has made just seven big league starts this year after missing nearly three months because of right shoulder inflammation. He is 1-2 with an 8.07 ERA, 6.28 FIP and 1.83 WHIP in 29 innings pitched.
A healthy and effective Miller would go a long way for the Dodgers in the second half, as they have dealt with numerous injuries to their rotation.
Fortunately for the team, Tyler Glasnow and Clayton Kershaw are returning this week, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto expressed a hope that he will pitch again this season as well.
Dodgers rotation without Bobby Miller
The Dodgers rotation currently consists of Gavin Stone, Landon Knack, Justin Wrobleski, River Ryan and Glasnow in the wake of James Paxton being designated for assignment on Monday.
The staff could look a lot different in the coming weeks, with several pitchers expected to return and the possibility of trade acquisitions.
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