The Dodgers just made a move in their bullpen, bringing Bobby Miller off the 60-day injured list and sending Kyle Hurt down to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Man, the timing of this swap, with just over three weeks left in the regular season, is everything. This ain’t just a simple roster shuffle; it’s a lesson in how quickly things can change when you’re eyeing the finish line.
Immediate Bullpen Shuffle Hits Different
This move is all about getting available arms right now. Think about it: Sunday already had an open spot in the rotation on this nine-game homestand, and then Monday opened up after Eric Lauer got put on the injured list after his start last Tuesday. So, yeah, they needed bodies. Justin Wrobleski, who pitched two innings last Tuesday, is gonna be available for bulk innings on Sunday against the Nationals. And Miller? He might even be available on Sunday, good for around 50 pitches if manager Dave Roberts decides to use him and he doesn’t pitch Saturday.
Miller’s had a rough season. He kicked things off on the injured list with shoulder inflammation, then later dealt with a back injury. Talk about a tough break! During his rehab stint down in Triple-A Oklahoma City, he posted a 3.86 ERA across seven games, punching out 17 hitters and walking four in 14 innings. His last couple of outings were exactly one inning each, but his first five games with the Comets saw him go between two and three innings, throwing 44-50 pitches. Miller sounded ready to go, saying on Saturday, “I feel like my stuff has played up a little bit better [in relief], but being in attack mode just all the time is really a mindset out there. Try to get ahead of every single hitter, not get in a ton of 3-2 counts, just try to get the hitter out as best you can.” That kind of mindset is exactly what a bullpen needs late in the season.
The Brutal Truth of the “Fresh Arm Express”
Here’s where it gets wild. Is Miller even an upgrade over Hurt? That’s debatable! One Dodgers reliever was actually surprised to see Hurt in street clothes with a travel bag packed, walking out of the clubhouse on Saturday. Ouch. But Miller is more likely than Hurt to give them some length, and sometimes, the “fresh arm express” isn’t exactly fair.
This move also highlights the strict rules around injured list rehab. Miller started his rehab assignment way back on August 5. Thursday was his 30th day, which is the absolute longest pitchers can stay on rehab while on the IL. At that point, the team *has* to activate them or option them. We saw Ben Casparius in a similar spot last week, but he hadn’t pitched since August 19 and was shut down with arm fatigue. Same for Gavin Stone, whose 30th day was Friday, but he hasn’t pitched since August 25 and is battling a biceps issue, according to Jack Harris of the California Post. Roberts even said Wednesday about Stone, “Just getting him to stay upright and stay healthy is a win for 2026. Is there a chance he could impact us at some point in time in September? Possibly. I just don’t know that answer.” Stone hasn’t even pitched in the majors since 2024! So, Casparius and Stone are staying on the 60-day IL, likely for the rest of the season. Miller, though, was healthy, joining the taxi squad on Friday until the team figured out his call-up.
Looking ahead to Monday, the Dodgers will call up another pitcher to start against the Cincinnati Reds, with Emmet Sheehan as the leading candidate. With just a few weeks left, every arm counts, especially when you’re pushing towards the season’s end.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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