After dropping the first two in the three-game exhibition Freeway Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers have one more chance to pick up a win as they close out their 2022 Spring Training schedule ahead of an Opening Day matchup on April 8.
Bobby Miller, the Dodgers’ top pitching prospect, takes the ball with a chance to prove he can help contribute to the club sooner rather than later. Miller is already projected to make his MLB debut at some point this season.
And even if he does struggle against the Angels, it shouldn’t affect his stock too much. Miller has already quickly risen through the prospect ranks and has the outlook of a potential frontline starting pitcher.
Miller pitched 56.1 innings last year between High-A Great Lakes and Double-A Tulsa, but 47 of those came with the Loons, where he posted a 1.91 ERA.
The 22-year-old right-hander has an electric fastball that can reach triple-digits, a wipeout slider, a developing curveball and developing changeup.
The Angels counter with Michael Lorenzen, the former Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher and occasional pinch-hitter who is now a member of the Anaheim rotation. This spring he has thrown five innings with a 3.60 ERA in two outings.
The right-hander struggled last season with a 5.59 ERA in 29 innings, but his 4.17 FIP suggest he was pretty unlucky. Lorenzen, who signed a one-year, $6.75 million deal this offseason, owns a career 4.07 ERA in 295 games (26 starts).
The Dodgers lineup gives a good glimpse into what it will likely look like on Opening Day as they try to build on what manager Dave Roberts considered their best offensive performance of Spring Training on Monday night.
“I thought, results withstanding, that was the best collective offensive performance we’ve had from our starters,” Roberts said after the game while noting how big it was to have Freddie Freeman back in the lineup.
“But just up and down our lineup, I thought we took the right walks, we won pitches. There was some good situational hitting. So I think overall, I really liked the approach tonight from the offense.”
The results have not been showing up for the Dodgers this spring and Roberts called on his team to “get going” because of the lackluster performances, so despite the loss, it was a step in the right direction.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
SS: Trea Turner
3B: Max Muncy
DH: Justin Turner
C: Will Smith
CF: Cody Bellinger
LF: Chris Taylor
2B: Gavin Lux
Angels lineup
DH: Shohei Ohtani
RF: Taylor Ward
LF: Jose Rojas
3B: Anthony Rendon
1B: Jared Walsh
CF: Jo Adell
C: Max Stassi
2B: Tyler Wade
SS: David Fletcher
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