grapplegraphics.com At the beginning of the year, the Los Angeles Dodgers were worried about their ability to make it through a 162-game pennant race and the postseason in October.
Most of their starters were either injured or underperforming. The Dodgers rotation, which began with Julio Urias, Dustin May, Clayton Kershaw, Noah Syndergaard, and Michael Grove, faltered early in the season and underwent significant changes after May.토토사이트
May suffered an arm injury on May 18 against the Minnesota Twins and was placed on the Tommy John surgery list, ending his season prematurely, while Syndergaard was traded to the Cleveland Indians in late July after struggling with finger blisters and a 7.16 ERA in 12 starts.
Kershaw hasn’t avoided the disabled list (IL) this year either. On July 1, he suffered a shoulder strain that landed him on the 40-day DL. Fortunately, Kershaw was an ace when he was healthy, going 13-4 with a 2.42 ERA in 23 starts.
The right-hander suffered a groin injury in May and a side injury in August, and his pitches weren’t quite as effective. He returned on April 24 and has been pitching out of the bullpen ever since. Tony Gonsolin, who joined the rotation in late April, went 8-5 with a 4.98 ERA in 20 starts before a Tommy John surgery in late August ended his season early.
Urias was the biggest casualty. Urias, who pitched at Cy Young level between 2021 and last year and was the Opening Day starter this year, suffered a hamstring injury on May 20 and rehabbed for more than a month before returning in early July, only to be sidelined with an administrative leave order amid allegations of domestic violence.
The Dodgers’ rotation has been shaken up significantly since Julio Urias, who started the season as the team’s Opening Day starter, left in the wake of the allegations. USATODAYYahoo!
Enter Bobby Miller, 24, a rookie right-handed fireballer. Miller made his major league debut on May 24 against the Atlanta Braves, tossing five innings of four-hit, one-run ball. He has a fastball, but his rookie-like poise and command of his pitches made him an ace. After earning the starting job by going five or more innings and allowing one run or less in each of his first four games, Miller has been an anchor of the rotation, consistently going five to seven innings, though he’s had his ups and downs since then.
Another impressive outing has kept the Dodgers’ postseason hopes alive. On April 27, Miller started against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field and went seven innings, allowing just two runs on seven hits in an 11-2 victory.
Miller struck out nine with a fastball that topped out at 100.0 mph and averaged 98.5 mph and a mix of pitches including a slider, curveball, and changeup. His four-pitch arsenal was flawless, not allowing a single hit and showing off his command of the game.
After the game, Miller said, “I think I pitched better today than I’ve ever pitched in my life. I’m kind of surprised with myself, and I have to give a lot of credit to our trainers for keeping me healthy.”
Opposing Colorado manager Bud Black said, “The last pitch he threw was 99 mph. He’s got a really good arm, a great arm,” he said in an unusual display of praise.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Bobby Miller throws hard in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Sunday (April 27). Miller pitched seven innings of two-run ball to earn his 11th win of the season. AFP
Miller has allowed three runs or fewer in four of his five starts in September. In those five games, he went 3-1 with a 3.58 ERA. In 32⅔ innings, he struck out 36 and walked just six.
Some have suggested that Miller should be the Dodgers’ first postseason starter. MLB.com wrote, “As the Dodgers ponder their postseason rotation, there’s no question that Miller should play a major role,” adding, “It’s hard to go wrong with Kershaw and Miller as the No. 1 and No. 2 starters. The order of those two pitchers will be determined by whether or not we get a Game 5, who we face, and how healthy they are.
Miller is 11-4 with a 3.89 ERA and 115 strikeouts in 21 games this season. He could be a candidate for Rookie of the Year.
The Dodgers took the first game of the doubleheader to improve to .97-60. With three more wins in their remaining five games, they will become just the seventh team in franchise history to reach the 100-win plateau in three consecutive years.