O Dodger the starting rotation lost another pitcher on Wednesday.
This time, the subtraction was intentional.
One day after being shaken for nine runs by the Philadelphia PhilliesIn what was the latest disaster of a disappointing 2024 season, right-hander Bobby Miller has been optioned to triple-A Oklahoma City, the Dodgers announced.
After missing more than two months with a shoulder injuryand posting a 1-2 record and 8.07 ERA in his seven starts this year, the Dodgers decided it was time for last year’s star rookie to be reset.
See more information: Bobby Miller continues to struggle as Dodgers are defeated by Phillies
Even amid a spate of early pitching injuries, Miller’s continued failures forced the club’s hand.
Miller’s demotion may not last long.
He wasn’t scheduled to pitch again before next week’s All-Star break (meaning the Dodgers could carry an extra reliever in the meantime, calling up Ricky Vanasco in a corresponding move on Wednesday). And although he will miss at least one game after the break, he could be recalled as early as July 25 (and possibly earlier if anyone on the Dodgers’ pitching staff goes on the injured list in the meantime).
Still, for a pitcher who was supposed to be a “big piece of the puzzle” in the Dodgers’ pitching plans this year, as manager Dave Roberts said at the start of the season, the need for such a drastic move now reflects the depth of the struggles Miller has faced – including a drop in velocity on his fastball, lack of consistency with his secondary weapons and inability to avoid big innings like the three-run second or six-run fourth that doomed his start in Philadelphia on Tuesday.
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This story originally appeared on Los Angeles Times.
