Bobby Miller pitches into 5th inning in Triple-A in 3rd rehab start

Dodgers right-hander Bobby Miller pitched into the fifth inning on Friday night for Triple-A Oklahoma City in his third minor league rehab start as he inches closer to a return from the injured list.

Miller allowed two runs (one earned) on four singles and two walks. He completed four innings and started the fifth for his deepest rehab start to date. But after two groundball singles to open the frame Miller was pulled after 85 pitches and four-plus innings. One of his bequeathed runners scored after he left.

The first two rehab starts were a bumpy ride for Miller in the California League, allowing seven runs in 6⅓ innings for Low-A Rancho Cucamonga. That included no strikeouts and decreased velocity last Saturday in Lake Elsinore, though Miller and the Dodgers training staff said there were no physical problems during the start.

On Friday in Oklahoma City, Miller averaged 97.4 mph on his four-seam fastball. His MLB average fastball this year is 98.3 mph in all of three starts, after averaging 99 mph as a rookie in 2023, the latter tops among major league starters.

Miller on Friday also got nine swinging strikes.

What’s next for Miller remains to be seen. He might need another rehab start, or could rejoin the Dodgers, for whom he last pitched on April 10. Miller has missed the last two months with shoulder inflammation.

“We’ve got to feel really confident. He’s got to feel confident that all the boxes are checked,” manager Dave Roberts said last weekend at Dodger Stadium. “We’ll see if we can get him into the fifth inning or through the fifth inning. That would be nice. And if not, we’ll have a conversation after that.”

The Dodgers are off next Monday, but then have a stretch of 12 straight game days. Up first is a homestand against the Rangers and Royals. Should Miller remain on five days rest, he would line up for the series finale next Thursday against Texas if he is in fact ready to return.