Righty Miller may pitch once more this season
Diamondbacks right-hander Shelby Miller threw 16 pitches in a simulated game Tuesday, and manager Torey Lovullo says Miller could pitch in a game this weekend in San Diego.
“(He) faced right- and left-handed batters, said that he felt good,” Lovullo said. “The fastball command wasn’t perfect for him – that was his point of view – but that’s to be expected.
“We want to see him come through that, and we’re hopeful that he can find himself in a game before the season ends.”
After Tommy John surgery in May 2017, Miller made just four starts for the Diamondbacks this year, the last coming on July 11, when he felt more soreness his elbow.
Miller will be arbitration-eligible for a fourth and final time this offseason, though the Diamondbacks seem likely to nontender him, thus making him a free agent. An outing this weekend – likely just a short relief appearance – seemingly would give him an opportunity to show he’s healthy. It also could be a positive finish to a season filled with rehab.
Lovullo said he does not know the exact dynamics of the roster moves the team would take to activate Miller. With lefty T.J. McFarland and slugger Christian Walker both done for the season, it could be moving either of them to the 60-man roster. First, though, he’ll have to make sure Miller is ready.
“I think that would be a really important step for Shelby, and he’s on board with it,” Lovullo said. “He believes that’s really important for him to get to, so we’re going to keep our fingers crossed that that can happen.”
Chafin on early walks
When left-hander Andrew Chafin walks batters, he walks them early.
In 76 games this season, he has walked his first batter 14 times. He’s walked 25 batters total this season. First batters facing Chafin have an onbase percentage of .368. Chafin knows it’s a problem, but he doesn’t think he’s approaching those initial batters any differently.
“It’s one of those things that I’m trying not to,” he said. “Obviously, I’m clearly not getting the results I want from the first hitter – at least give them a chance to get themselves out, kind of thing.
“But I’m not trying to do any more or less per se than any other hitter, inherently anyway. Just trying to get them out, and I haven’t had the best of luck with it lately, most of the season.”
Monday night, that tendency hurt him and the Diamondbacks, as they fell 7-4 to the Dodgers. Chafin entered with a one-run lead in the seventh, immediately walking Yasmani Grandal on five pitches. The Dodgers swapped Tim Locasto in to pinch-run for Grandal, and Locasto scored just two batters later to tie the game at 3. By that point, Chafin was already done. He faced only two batters before Brad Ziegler took the mound.
“It’s something we’re very well aware of. I don’t know the answer to that question,” Lovullo said when asked about the leadoff walks. “We’re trying to work through it and have our catchers set up on the plate and just get ahead of hitters.”
Chafin’s ERA is at 3.14. He has pitched 482⁄3 innings this season. His career high came in 2015, with 75.
Minor leaguers on awards
On Monday, the Diamondbacks announced infielder Jazz Chisholm and right-hander Taylor Widener were the organization’s minor league player and pitcher of the year. Both were honored on the field ahead of Tuesday’s game.
Chisholm played 76 games with Low-A Kane County this summer before he was called up to High-A Visalia in mid-July. His production increased following the promotion. With Visalia, he hit .329, bringing his average for the summer as a whole up to .272, with 25 home runs and 70 RBIs.
Widener is the third pitcher to earn the honors in his first year with the organization. He said he saw his biggest improvement in his change-up.