The Los Angeles Dodgers optioned Bobby Miller, opening a spot on the 26-man roster. No corresponding move was announced, but they will likely add another pitcher prior to their game against the Texas Rangers on Friday.
Among the available options to fill the open roster spot, Evan Phillips figures to be activated from the 15-day injured list.
Miller made his 2025 debut on Wednesday, allowing six runs in three innings with seven strikeouts. The right-hander gave a grand slam in the third inning and another solo home run that made the Dodgers’ six-run lead a 7-6 game.
“Just efficiency, getting in hitters counts, I got a little predictable,” Miller said. “Changeup and slider wasn’t really there today. I was kind of just working with two pitches tonight. But there’s a lot of positives and a lot of bad at the same time.
“But at the end of the day, just kind of dive deep and find out how to get back in the zone with my other two pitches. And I know I can take off from there, because I know him a lot better than what I showed tonight.”
Miller was looking to get back on track after a 2024 season in which he was one of the worst pitchers in baseball as he posted an 8.52 ERA over 13 starts. That followed a 2023 season when Miller was arguably the ace of the club as a rookie, posting a 3.76 ERA over 22 starts while striking out 119 batters over 124.1 innings.
He was drafted in the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of the University of Louisville and quickly became one of the Dodgers’ top prospects. Despite his struggles, the Dodgers still believe in his upside.
“I think even if you look at a calendar a year ago, right around this time, Bobby was coming off some great outings, and he was just really thriving,” manager Dave Roberts said. “And so obviously, with things that have happened, he’s had to work his way back. But as far as the upside, potential, absolutely.”
Bobby Miller remaining confident
Although Miller was hoping to have better results in his 2025 debut, he is doing his best to remain confident and fix the issues plaguing him because his pure stuff remains elite.
“I wasn’t really putting any added pressure on myself,” Miller said. “I know the position I’m in, but I know when I’m on, I can be here for a long time. Just got to fix the problems that I had today, which was command with my other pitches. But yeah, that’s really it.”
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