Bobby Miller Wasn’t Supposed to Be Here, Now the Dodgers’ Season Rests on His Shoulders
The stage is set for Bobby Miller. At 6:07 p.m. on Monday night, Bobby Miller will be taking the mound for the Dodgers, essentially trying to keep their season alive. No, the Dodgers can’t be eliminated from postseason contention on Monday, but going down 0-2 in a best-of-five series with the next two games coming in Arizona is as close to elimination as it gets.
So, on Monday night, in front of a sold out crowd at Dodger Stadium, it’ll be up to the 24-year-old rookie to keep the Dodgers’ World Series hopes alive.
Normally, that sentence would elicit fear in the mind of Dodger fans everywhere. But with Miller, things just feel different.
Yes, Miller has only made 22 starts at the MLB level. And yes, Miller has never played in a postseason environment, or anything remotely close to it. And yes, Miller gave up four earned runs and seven hits in his most recent start against Arizona at Dodger Stadium at the end of August.
But right now, none of that matters. Bobby Miller was made to pitch postseason baseball, and on Monday night, he’ll make his presence known.
When asked on Saturday how he felt about getting the Game 2 start, Miller responded as confidently as ever.
“I feel ready to go.”
Miller is going to bring his 100-mph fastball. He’s going to bring his equally dominant six-pitch mix. And most importantly, he’s going to bring his energy.
Earlier this season, Miller had an important conversation with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts about channeling his emotions. After Miller lasted just 3.2 innings in a start against the San Diego Padres, Roberts told the rookie he needed to better control his emotions to avoid burning out and not being able to go deeper into games.
After that conversation, Miller’s starts went as follows:
6.0 IP, 6.0 IP, 6.1 IP, 6.0 IP, 7.0 IP, 7.0 IP, 5.2 IP, 6.0 IP, 7.0 IP.
You think he got the memo?
Miller will likely only be tasked with going five innings on Monday, as Roberts has already made it clear he’s not expecting his starters to go deep into games. If he’s dealing, you hope Roberts will give him a sixth, and then hand it off to a bullpen that has been one of baseball’s best over the last few months of the year.
But none of that matters right now.
For Miller, as he enters Monday night’s postseason debut, all that matters is that he continues to be himself.
Miller wasn’t supposed to debut so early this season, but injuries forced the Dodgers hand.
Then, Miller wasn’t supposed to stick around for so long, but his play forced the Dodgers hand.
And then, Miller wasn’t supposed to be tasked with starting one of the first two games of the postseason for the Dodgers, but injuries, outside circumstances and, most importantly, Miller’s play forced the Dodgers’ hand.
As we enter Monday night’s start with the Dodgers down 0-1 and their season essentially on the line, Dodger fans should have all the confidence in the world. Because there’s no one on this team they would rather have pitch in a must-win game than Robert Anthony Miller.
Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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