Dodgers Roster News: LA Activates Shelby Miller Off Bereavement List, DFA Adam Kolarek

The Los Angeles Dodgers made a roster move on Wednesday, as they activated reliever Shelby Miller from the bereavement list and designated LHP Adam Kolarek for assignment.

The Dodgers activated RHP Shelby Miller from the bereavement list and designated LHP Adam Kolarek for assignment.

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— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 14, 2023

Kolarek made one appearance for the Dodgers, pitching 1.1 scoreless innings against the Phillies while striking out two.

As for Miller, he’s performed well out of the bullpen for the Dodgers this year, putting up a 2.58 ERA in 24 appearances in what has been his best season since becoming a full time relief arm in 2021.

His return comes at a time when the Dodgers remain in need for bullpen stability.

The bullpen regulars performed well on Tuesday night as Caleb Ferguson and Evan Phillips each put up a scoreless inning, but the entire relief group still ranks as the fourth-worst in MLB with a 4.74 mark as of Wednesday afternoon, ahead of only the Oakland A’s, Washington Nationals, and Kansas City Royals.

Simply put, the bullpen will need to perform more consistently in order for the Dodgers to contend for a World Series title.

They should still be considered a potential threat down the line, as they have a largely productive offense and a rotation that’s performing better. But if the relievers can’t shut things down in the back end of games, it will be extremely difficult for the Dodgers to contend.

As of now, the team doesn’t have plans to designate a traditional closer, but that plan may change if things don’t change course, up to and including a potential trade.

So Miller will head back into a Dodger clubhouse that’s beginning to hit a rather critical point.

It’s no time to panic at the moment, given it’s still only mid-June, but the team still needs to turn a 180 in the bullpen or risk falling into a deeper hole when it comes to a division that the franchise has traditionally dominated over the last decade.

Before the beginning of play Wednesday, the Dodgers trail the Arizona Diamondbacks by three games in the NL West, and LA’s latest position in MLB’s power rankings reflects that.

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