Starting pitching is back to being a major strength for the Los Angeles Dodgers this season after an uncharacteristically average showing in 2023 where they finished in the middle of the pack in terms of team ERA.
The moves the team made in the offseason have paid major dividends through 50 games, where they now find themselves with the fourth best team ERA in the Majors coming into Tuesday.
The Dodgers’ success can be attributed to not only the high profile talent they acquired in the form of Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but also the under the radar signing of James Paxton. The contributions from their emerging young talent like Gavin Stone and Landon Knack have been equally as impactful and impressive.
Bobby Miller was one of those young players that the Dodgers expected to play a big role this season, but he made just three starts before going on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation.
As expected, he threw a three inning simulated game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday and is on track to begin his rehab assignment with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday.
“We got through three innings. I think he threw 51 pitches,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “And I think that what you would expect the first time out, the command of his pitches isn’t going to be there. But I think the exercise of getting him up and down three times was accomplished. And the next step is for him to start his rehab assignment for that Rancho team on Sunday.”
A lot of new developments have occurred in the time that Miller has been out of commission. Both Paxton and Stone have firmly entrenched themselves into the rotation with the seasons they have had up to this point.
Paxton has been a stalwart all season for a rotation that lacked consistency in the early part of the 2024.
The growth that Stone has shown over the course of the season has been very impressive and he has shown that he can be a quality Major League rotation piece.
With Walker Buehler back in the fold and showing improvement in his last start, the Dodgers rotation is deep with options. It raises the question of how Miller fits back in, but the Dodgers are not getting ahead of themselves and will cross that bridge when they get to it.
“Certainly with the way guys are throwing the baseball, and as it stands now, the health. But we’ve got three starts,” Roberts said. “So we’ve got some time to kind of say let’s let Bobby get through Sunday, and then we’ll kind of see from there. But unfortunately, things seem to change. But he’ll find his way in there once he’s ready.”
Miller is expected to pitch in three rehab starts before he makes his return.
“He threw three things today, so he’ll probably do another three, then a four, and then a five, and then we’ll see where we’re at,” Roberts said.
Max Muncy working his way back to the Dodgers
The Dodgers have dealt with a lot of injuries this season, but their position players have been relatively healthy so far and have avoided the injured list for the most part. One of their few losses on offense was Max Muncy, who suffered a right oblique strain during batting practice on May 16.
The injury was believed to be minor, and the Dodgers are hopeful that he won’t miss extended time.
“He looks good. He’s done some plyo stuff, he took some grounders today, threw,” Roberts said. “I think he’s going to hit probably tomorrow or Thursday in the cage, and it will be a one or two game rehab. I don’t know when that’s going to start, and hopefully will get him back sometime next week.”
Kiké Hernández has taken over third base duties in his stead and Miguel Vargas was called up to take Muncy’s roster spot.
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