Dodgers send struggling young pitcher to minors

07-10-2024
2 min read
Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

Bobby Miller's 2024 campaign with the Dodgers has been put on hold. Miller on Wednesday was sent down to Triple-A Oklahoma City after allowing 10 hits and nine runs in 4.0 innings against the Phillies on Tuesday. 

The struggling second-year pitcher saw his ERA balloon to 8.07 after another outing where he failed to make it beyond the fifth inning. In seven starts this season Miller has pitched just 29.0 innings and allowed 26 runs on 35 hits with 18 walks and 27 strikeouts. He also allowed at least one homer in every start after his sterling season debut against the Cardinals where he went 6.0 shutout frames.

Everything since that Mar. 29 start has been a mess. Miller had two rocky outings after that, and wound up on the IL because of inflammation in his throwing shoulder. Since his return on June 19 he's gotten out of the fifth inning only once and allowed 19 runs across 17.1 innings.

It's unclear what exactly is going wrong for Miller, but finding out is the goal of his stint in Triple-A according to Fabian Ardaya of the Athletic. In OKC he'll work with the player development staff to try and cure whatever mechanical issue is leading to his disastrous 2024 campaign. 

The timing on this couldn't be much worse for Los Angeles, which is already having problems in its rotation due to injury. Now they'll be without Miller until at least July 25 per Ardaya, although the Dodgers didn't place a timetable on his return so there's no guarantee he'll be ready in time to make an impact ahead of the trade deadline.