ATLANTA — Hard-throwing right-hander Bobby Miller, one of the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ top prospects, will make his debut against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night.
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 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, Illinois.
“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.
Roberts said he has told Miller “to just be yourself. I think the natural emotions and adrenaline happen organically so don’t try to create that. Just be yourself. … Don’t try to throw 110. Just throw 100 and it’ll be there. I just think enjoy the moment. You’ve earned it. You belong here and go compete.”
Roberts said he believes Miller is ready for his debut despite his underwhelming statistics in his brief experience at Triple-A.
“I think the makeup is one thing and obviously the physicality, the stuff,” Roberts said. “And he’s pitched well recently. So I think with those kind of things, the time is now, given all the circumstances. We could try to put together a soft landing, but I think this is the right time for Bobby.”
The Dodgers also on Monday placed star left-hander Clayton Kershaw on the bereavement list, but the nine-time All-Star is still expected to make his scheduled start on Saturday.
Kershaw, 35, is 6-4 with a 2.98 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 57⅓ innings this season, his 16th with the Dodgers.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.