The Los Angeles Dodgers demoted right-handed pitcher Bobby Miller to the bottom division on Wednesday, a day after he surrendered nine runs in four innings against Philadelphia, raising his earned run average to 8.07.
The 25-year-old Miller, in his second season in the majors, has one win and two losses in seven starts, all as a starter, pitching 29 innings this season. After going six innings without conceding a goal in his first start, he has a 10.17 ERA since then.
Miller will spend time with the organization’s player development staff, The Athletic reported, and after the All-Star break, he is expected to begin a stint with the third-tier Oklahoma City Thunder, according to manager Dave Roberts.
The Dodgers are already missing seven starters due to injury. The list includes Tyler Glasnow (outfielder), Yoshinobu Yamamoto (rotator cuff strain), Walker Buehler (hip soreness) and Clayton Kershaw (recovering from shoulder surgery).
Despite these absences, Los Angeles has achieved 55 wins and 38 losses and is 7 and a half games ahead in the National League West.
In a similar move, the Dodgers called up right-handed pitcher Ricky Vanasco. The 25-year-old made his only previous major league appearance when he pitched two scoreless innings in relief against the Washington Nationals on April 15.
In 23 relief appearances for Oklahoma City this season, Vanasco has zero wins and two losses with a 3.63 earned run average. He has also racked up 20 saves and 25 strikeouts in 22⅓ innings.
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