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Bobby Miller, Emmet Sheehan will remain in Dodgers’ rotation

June 24, 2023

LOS ANGELES ― Bobby Miller and Emmet Sheehan have passed their auditions.

The rookie right-handers will remain in the Dodgers’ starting rotation this week after Julio Urías returns from the 15-day injured list in Kansas City later this week, manager Dave Roberts confirmed.

“It is a game of performance,” Roberts said. “As it stands now, those two have really performed well and will continue to earn opportunities.”

Sheehan, 23, has allowed three hits in 12 innings to begin his major-league career. He earned his first major-league win Friday against the Houston Astros after throwing six no-hit innings in his debut a week earlier against the San Francisco Giants.

Miller, 24, entered Saturday’s start against Houston with a 3-1 record and 2.83 ERA five games into his career.

Their sudden emergence – Miller from Triple-A Oklahoma City, Sheehan from Double-A Tulsa – allowed the Dodgers to go a combined 4-3 in their starts since Miller’s May 23 debut. They’re 8-11 in all other games during that stretch.

“I think this is the 100th percentile, as far as what we had hoped how they would handle if given the opportunity to pitch for us this year,” Roberts said. “Given the injuries and how it’s been for these guys to fill in more than admirably and carry themselves as such gives us a lot of confidence on the pitching side.”

Urías is making a minor-league rehabilitation start Sunday for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga. If that goes well, he’ll start during the Dodgers’ three-game series in Kansas City next weekend.

The odd man out in that case figures to be right-hander Michael Grove, who threw two scoreless relief innings Friday against the Astros.

The Dodgers might opt to send Grove back to Triple-A Oklahoma City to improve as a starter. The 26-year-old had an 8.10 ERA in 30 innings to begin the season. But neither he nor Roberts shot down the possibility that Grove will stick around as a reliever – an area of concern with right-hander Shelby Miller expected to miss several weeks with a neck injury.

“My first time coming out of the ’pen like that, so I didn’t know exactly what to expect, how I’d feel, nerves, all that stuff,” Grove said. “I don’t know how these guys go through it. Build a sweat out there, the gates open, it’s definitely a rush. It’s something I’ve never experienced.”

SYNDERGAARD THROWS

Noah Syndergaard threw three simulated innings to Dodger hitters prior to Saturday’s game, his first action against live hitters since being placed on the 15-day injured list with a finger blister June 8.

The injury is no longer a hindrance. Neither is the defeatist mindset that wore on Syndergaard as he tried “different things, to come up with the same results, feel like you’re letting your teammates down,” Roberts said.

Syndergaard is 1-4 with a 7.16 ERA in 12 starts this season. He signed a one-year, $13 million contract with the Dodgers in December.

Roberts described Saturday’s simulated game as “checking a box.” The next step is to be determined.

“We’re still a ways away,” Roberts said. “I know that’s a vague statement but that’s kind of where we’re at.”

INJURY UPDATES

Max Muncy (hamstring) was among the hitters who faced Syndergaard, and he’ll take live at-bats again Sunday at Dodger Stadium. Roberts said Muncy is expected to travel to Colorado with the rest of the team Monday and be active and play third base Tuesday against the Rockies.

“Wednesday, we’ll reassess how he’s feeling if he’s going to play back-to-back,” Roberts said.

The Dodgers are expected to face left-hander Kyle Freeland on Wednesday.

Chris Taylor (knee contusion) was not in the Dodgers’ starting lineup Saturday but could be back in Sunday, Roberts said.