DODGERS’ MILLER’S DEBUT ON DECK
Hard-throwing righthander Bobby Miller, one of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ top prospects, will make his debut against the Braves tonight in Atlanta.
Manager Dave Roberts confirmed the plan for Miller on Monday before another rookie, right-hander Gavin Stone, made his second start against the Braves.
Miller was with the team on Monday in preparation for his debut.
“He’s got a ton of friends and family coming,” Roberts said of Miller, a native of Elk Grove Village, Ill.
“He’s got big stuff. I think we’ve all been looking forward to him making his Dodgers major league debut. He’s excited and it’s actually sort of fun that you get these two guys going back to back against a club like this.”
Miller (6-foot-5, 220 pounds) was the No. 29 overall pick in the 2020 June draft from Louisville. Known for his ability to throw 100 mph fastballs, Miller was 1-1 with a 5.65 ERA in five starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City this season.
The Dodgers have been forced to use rookies to fill the rotation after placing Dustin May (right elbow pain) and left-hander Julio Urías (hamstring) on the injured list. Two other candidates to start, Michael Grove and Ryan Pepiot, also are on the IL.
DeGrom has bullpen session
Jacob deGrom threw a 32-pitch bullpen session Monday before the Texas Rangers played the Pittsburgh Pirates as the righthander continues his recovery from elbow inflammation.
“It went really, really well,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “He said he feels great and didn’t feel anything at all there.”
DeGrom threw all fastballs. He will add breaking balls to the mix when he throws his next bullpen on Friday, when the Rangers play at Baltimore.
Bochy said no timetable has been established for deGrom’s return, and that the 34-year-old could possibly be added to the active roster without a minor league rehab assignment.
Notable
Eric Lauer has joined the growing list of injured Milwaukee Brewers pitchers.
Lauer went on the 15-day injured list Monday, retroactive to Sunday, with an impingement in his right, nonthrowing shoulder.
Lauer said Monday that his non-throwing shoulder doesn’t feel right and “has this, like, dead feeling to it” that has impacted his mechanics.