Dodgers News: Bobby Miller Still Earning His Way with Manager Dave Roberts

As the Dodgers navigate through a plethora of injuries and inconsistent pitching, they have some big choices to make down the stretch. In all likelihood, the team will be aggressive in trying to upgrade the pitching staff with the trade deadline just a few weeks away, but they also will need to figure out what they want to do with some of their young arms that have helped carry them to this point.

One of the biggest is right-hander Bobby Miller and the team is going to need to decide if he can help them win games when it matters. Or was he just filling in due to the issues they have seen? My guess is the former but that still remains to be seen.

In his first start of the second half of the season, Miller reminded everyone just how good he could be. He shut down the New York Mets lineup through four innings but did start to lose his command in the fifth and was ultimately taken out before he could try to work out of a jam. It’s been a consistent part of his game for Miller since being called up, where he can get through a lineup twice but come that third time, the opposing teams light him up.

The team knows it but the longer leash to pitch into games is coming. But for now, manager Dave Roberts is still trying to figure it all out.

“This is still in its infancy,” the manager said. “I’m still trying to manage every game. I’m not about development all the time. But as we look out and he continues to throw the ball well and earn opportunities to get deeper in games, he’ll get those chances.”

Per The Athletic

In his previous start against the Mets, Roberts felt that another pitcher gave the team a better chance to win the game. Miller didn’t pitch long into the game, which has become a consistent issue for LA this season by the majority of their starting pitchers. And to give credit to Roberts, his decision did pan out.

Miller’s chance to pitch deeper into games even when he doesn’t have everything going for him is coming down the line. It’s part of growing as a young pitcher in Major League Baseball and Roberts is doing his best to put his pitcher in the best position to succeed.

“Are there times with younger pitches that I get cautious and not let them do that right away? Sure,” Roberts said. “But feeling where our bullpen was at, layer that in. (Bobby will) get opportunities to take stress on, (and) if he gets out of it, to then go. That’s the next level of growth for a young pitcher.”

Per The Athletic

LA is going to need guys like Miller as the season progresses. He has more than shown enough to justify him staying in the rotation for now but he needs to continue to get better. The more experience he gains, the better he will be and this is still all a learning curve for him just nine starts into his career.

“There wasn’t any damage the third time through,” Miller said. “The last hit was kind of just unfortunate. I thought it was a really good pitch. Other than that, just have to command the ball better in those late innings and I’m going to make it longer into the game.”

Per MLB.com

Photo Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

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