The Dodgers added a pair of right-handed pitchers to the energetic roster on Saturday, selling Bobby Miller from Triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis and activating Ryan Brasier from the 60-day injured record. To liberate area on the 26-man roster, right-hander Michael Grove and left-hander Justin Wrobleski have been optioned to Triple-A. The Dodgers already had an open spot on the 40-man after designating Amed Rosario for project on Monday.
Miller, 25, has had a tough go of it in his sophomore season. After pitching to a 3.76 ERA and three.93 SIERA in his rookie marketing campaign, the righty had combined outcomes over his first three begins in 2024, placing up a 5.40 ERA and three.22 SIERA in 11 2/3 innings pitched. He then spent the following two months on the IL with irritation in his throwing shoulder. Miller returned to the mound in mid-June however struggled tremendously over his subsequent 4 outings, giving up 19 earned runs in 17 1/3 innings (9.87 ERA). He struck out solely 9, walked 12 and allowed 5 house runs (no less than one among 4 begins). His fastball velocity was additionally considerably slower; his four-seam averaged 99 mph in 2023, 98.3 mph over his first three begins in 2024 and simply 96.8 mph in his final 4 begins earlier than his demotion. Following what was arguably the worst begin of his massive league profession (4 IP, 9 ER in opposition to the Phillies on July 9), he was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis.
Sadly, Miller hasn’t seemed a lot sharper at Triple-A. In three begins after being despatched down, he gave up 9 runs (eight earned) on 11 hits with matching 18.3 % strikeout and stroll charges. He has not regained any of his lacking fastball velocity both; his four-seam averaged 96.5 mph in his newest Triple-A outing on Aug. 9. That being mentioned, the Dodgers may merely have run out of different choices for the beginning rotation. Earlier this week, the group introduced that prime prospect River Ryan would bear Tommy John surgical procedure and ace Tyler Glasnow would hit the 15-day IL with elbow tendinitis. Wrobleski began on Friday and Landon Knack was optioned after pitching 4 innings in reduction on Tuesday. Miller is the one different wholesome starter on the 40-man roster.
Wrobleski collected the win in opposition to the Cardinals on Friday, however the 24-year-old didn’t precisely look sharp. He gave up 4 runs on three homers in 5 innings of labor, hanging out three and strolling two. The southpaw has a 4.68 ERA and 5.14 SIERA in 25 massive league innings this yr to go together with a 5.23 ERA and 5.03 FIP in 4 begins at Triple-A Oklahoma.
Thus, Miller will take the ball in Saturday’s Gamers’ Weekend contest in opposition to the Cardinals. Barring a very poor efficiency, he may stay within the rotation till Glasnow is able to return. The All-Star right-hander probably received’t miss a lot time with Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reporting that Glasnow “feels positive” and didn’t even wish to go on the IL within the first place. His IL placement is retroactive to Aug. 13 so he will probably be eligible to come back again to the group on Aug. 28.
In the meantime, Brasier will return to pitch out of the Dodgers bullpen for the primary time since April. He has been out for almost 4 months nursing a proper calf pressure. Though his early season efficiency was uninspiring (4.63 ERA in 12 video games), the 36-year-old was dominant for the Dodgers after they acquired him final season (0.70 ERA in 79 video games), and the group will hope he can contribute within the late innings down the stretch. Regardless of his mediocre ERA, he pitched to a 3.21 SIERA in April, virtually an identical to his 3.29 SIERA with L.A. in 2023. On prime of that, he seemed sharp in opposition to minor league competitors throughout his Triple-A rehab stint, tossing eight scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts and just one stroll. What’s extra, his common velocity was up on each his four-seam and sinker in comparison with his radar gun readings in April.
Grove, 27, has a 5.18 ERA in 33 appearances for the Dodgers this yr. Nonetheless, his 3.20 SIERA is rather more promising and he’ll head to Triple-A to attend within the wings as further bullpen depth. Regardless of his unpleasant ERA, he has seemed like a stable multi-inning reliever when he’s taken the mound for the Dodgers this yr. But, contemplating his combined outcomes (together with a poor outing on Friday) and his optionability, it comes as little shock that the Dodgers selected to ship Grove right down to make room for Brasier within the bullpen.
