Bobby Miller has become an important part of the Los Angeles Dodgers starting rotation but the team faces somewhat of a balancing act with the rookie heading down the stretch of the season and into the playoffs.
Miller logged at least six innings in each of his three two outings heading into Monday’s start against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but likely won’t pitch deep into games for the remainder of the season. “I think so,” manager Dave Roberts recently answered when asked if the Dodgers would consider shortening Miller’s starts.
“We’re in a good spot with Bobby. I think the question is, how do we continue to remain in that position? An inning here, absolutely I think that could work.”
While Roberts has given thought to taking Miller out an inning or two early, he ruled out the possibility of the 24-year-old being shut down. “You have a young player who has clearly got some rhythm and confidence, and managing pitcher’s workload is not an exact science,” Roberts began.
“So to kind of just take it off the table that he should be shut down for a couple weeks, with nothing that supports that, it just didn’t make a lot of sense to all of us. As opposed to having him continue to run out there, gain information, gain experience and see where that takes us.”
With a double-digit lead in the National League West standings, the Dodgers are well on track to win their 10th division title since 2013. Doing so won’t change the team’s plan for Miller.
“I don’t think so,” Roberts said of the Dodgers potentially changing course with Miller if they win the NL West. “I think for a young player that potentially could be, as he put it, a ‘count-on guy,’ you’ve got to get experience. The only way you do that is pitching or taking at-bats.
“This is a crash course for Bobby, because we’re potentially going to be counting on him in the postseason. So he needs as many repetitions and innings as he can have, in my opinion.”
But although Roberts acknowledged a likelihood with managing Miller’s workload, he subsequently pushed the right-hander his last time out against the Cleveland Guardians. That decision was based on Miller having extra rest and how sharp he looked leading into the seventh inning.
Dodgers’ plans for Bobby Miller in postseason
What role Miller will have for the Dodgers in the postseason is going to depend on his performance over the final six weeks of the regular season. “It’s up to him to continue to make himself a bigger part of that picture,” Roberts said.
“Other guys have track records, which should be of importance and value, but you can’t argue the arm talent. So it’s up to him.”
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