The Dodgers There were also two right-handed pitchers to the active squad on Saturday, promotion of Bobby Miller from Triple-A Oklahoma City and activation of Ryan Brasier from the 60-day injured list. To make room in the 26-man roster, right-hander Michael Grove and left-hander Justin Wrobleski were transferred to Triple-A. The Dodgers already had a free spot on the 40-man roster after signing Amed Rosario for the task on Monday.

Miller, 25, hasn’t had an easy time in his sophomore season. After posting a 3.76 ERA and 3.93 SIERA in his rookie season, the right-hander posted mixed results in his first three starts in 2024, managing a 5.40 ERA and 3.22 SIERA in 11 2/3 innings pitched. He then spent the next two months on the IL with inflammation in his throwing shoulder. Miller returned to the mound in mid-June but struggled tremendously in his next four appearances, allowing 19 earned runs in 17 1/3 innings (9.87 ERA). He struck out just nine times, allowed 12 strikeouts and allowed five home runs (at least one in all four starts). The velocity of his fastball was also considerably lower; his four-seam averaged 99 mph in 2023, 98.3 mph in his first three starts in 2024, and just 96.8 mph in his last four starts before his demotion. After arguably the worst start of his major league career (4 IP, 9 ER against the Phillies on July 9), he was sent to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Unfortunately, Miller hasn’t fared much better in Triple-A. In three starts since his demotion, he allowed nine runs (eight earned) on 11 hits, with strikeout and walk rates of 18.3 percent. He also hasn’t regained his missing fastball speed; his four-seam averaged 96.5 mph in his last Triple-A appearance on August 9. That being said, the Dodgers may have simply run out of other options for the starting lineup. Earlier this week, the team announced that top prospect River Ryan would undergo Tommy John surgery and ace Tyler Glasnow would be placed on the 15-day IL with tendonitis in his elbow. Wrobleski started on Friday and Landon Knack was benched after four innings as a relief pitcher on Tuesday. Miller is the only other healthy starter on the 40-man roster.

Wrobleski got the win against the Cardinals on Friday, but the 24-year-old didn’t look particularly fit. He allowed four runs on three home runs in five innings, struck out three and walked two. The left-hander has a 4.68 ERA and a 5.14 SIERA in 25 big league innings this year, along with a 5.23 ERA and a 5.03 FIP in four starts at Triple-A Oklahoma.

This means that Miller will take the ball in Saturday’s Players’ Weekend game against the Cardinals. Unless he performs particularly poorly, he could stay in the rotation until Glasnow is ready. The All-Star right-hander is unlikely to miss much time, as Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports that Glasnow is “doing well” and did not want to go on the injured list from the start. His injury list is retroactive to August 13, meaning he will be eligible to return to the team on August 28.

Meanwhile, Brasier will pitch out of the Dodgers’ bullpen for the first time since April. He was sidelined for nearly four months with a strained right calf. Although his early season performance was uninspiring (4.63 ERA in 12 games), the 36-year-old has been dominant for the Dodgers after they signed him last season (0.70 ERA in 79 games), and the team will hope he can contribute in the late innings down the stretch. Despite his mediocre ERA, he pitched to a 3.21 SIERA in April, nearly identical to his 3.29 SIERA with LA in 2023. Additionally, he performed well against minor league competition during his rehab period in Triple-A, throwing eight scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts and just one walk. Additionally, his average speed on both his four-seam and sinker was higher compared to his radar gun readings in April.

Grove, 27, has a 5.18 ERA in 33 appearances for the Dodgers this year. His 3.20 SIERA is more promising, however, and he will move to Triple-A to serve as additional bullpen reinforcement. Despite his unsightly ERA, he looked like a solid multi-inning relief pitcher when he was on the mound for the Dodgers this year. However, given his mixed results (including a poor outing on Friday) and his optionability, it’s not a huge surprise that the Dodgers decided to send Grove down to make room for Brasier in the bullpen.