One of the more disappointing parts of the Dodgers playoff collapse this year was the start that rookie sensation Bobby Miller put together. Miller was one of the best pitchers for LA throughout the season, but his final act was tarnished.
Miller couldn’t get out of the second inning before he was pulled after allowing three runs in the eventual Game 2 loss. It was as poor of a start to his postseason career as can be, and it was a missed opportunity for everyone involved.
MLB writer Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report gave grades out to some of the rookies who played in the postseason, and Miller earned a pretty harsh grade for his debut against Arizona.
“The velo was there, but he got just two swings and misses on 29 fastballs. And while he wasn’t terrible at finding the zone, he had no luck getting Arizona hitters to expand it. “Said hitters obviously deserve their share of the credit for what befell Miller, but the man himself ultimately had nothing with which to beat them. The quick hook with which Dave Roberts came and got him was justified. Grade: D”
The Dodgers were confident in his ability to start in Game 2, and even Miller felt confident heading into the game. But he couldn’t get past the nerves, and they buried him early on.
Miller put together a very solid rookie season, so even with his playoff performance, we can’t fault him too much. Realistically, he should have never been put into that situation, but that is where the state of the Dodgers rotation was.
He finished the 2023 season with an ERA of 3.76 over 22 starts. Miller also posted 119 strikeouts over 124.1 innings of work, and he put up a 1.10 WHIP for his rookie year.
Miller has the look of a future ace for the Dodgers, and hopefully, he can learn from this poor start in the playoffs. But he gained valuable experience over the course of the season, and he can take that into the offseason to continue growing his game.
Many didn’t know if he would have been in the big leagues this season, let alone starting a playoff game for this team. The future is bright for Miller, and he will get another shot to redeem himself the next time he starts a playoff game for LA.
More must-reads: