Coming off an impressive rookie season full of maturation and development, Bobby Miller was named the Game 2 starter for the National League Division Series.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have collectively expressed confidence in Miller being able to handle his postseason debut, and the right-hander equally holds an appreciation for being given the opportunity.
“It’s an honor to have the trust from the coaches and teammates to put me out there in Game 2,” Miller said. “I feel ready to go.”
Miller compared the outing to his MLB debut and facing the Seattle Mariners in terms of biggest games of his career, and downplayed concern over the potential impact of the environment.
“Nerves going into this one are pretty high, but that’s a good thing. That means I’m really excited for it,” he said. “Kind of what Kersh (Clayton Kershaw) said, he’d rather fail at the highest level or fail here than not be here at all. I’m just really excited for Monday, and just treating it like another game.
“I want to win every time I’m out there anyway.”
Miller spoke with media prior to the NLDS beginning, and the circumstance has changed in that the Dodgers are facing the possibility of falling into a 2-0 series deficit to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
That could lend to a player assuming more pressure than necessary, especially a rookie in his postseason debut, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is confident Miller won’t experience as much.
“I think Mark Prior does a great job. He’s a calming presence. Will behind the plate, very calming. So I think him being at home is a good thing for his first playoff start,” Roberts said.
“But I’m not going to have a conversation with him, unless I see something different.”
Bobby Miller looking to benefit from familiarity
Monday’s start is Miller’s third time facing the Diamondbacks this year, having seen them once each at Dodger Stadium in Chase Field during the regular season.
He threw six shutout innings in Arizona on August 9, but allowed four runs in six frames at home nearly three weeks later.
“I have a lot of confidence out there going against these guys,” Miller said. “I faced them twice already. They got to me a little more the second time against them, but I’ll do my best not to let it happen another time.”
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