Bobby Miller progressing toward return – creating a dilemma for Dodgers

LOS ANGELES — Planning for the future is part of the job. But Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes breaks out in a wide smile and laughs at the question of how the Dodgers will integrate Bobby Miller back into their starting rotation when the young right-hander is ready to return from the injured list.

The Dodgers’ five-man rotation of Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, James Paxton, Gavin Stone and Walker Buehler are all currently healthy and pitching well lately. Right-hander Landon Knack has a 2.61 ERA after four spot starts and waits in Triple-A.

“That is way too far in the future to talk about,” Gomes said, laughing. “I think every time we’ve had these thoughts in the past – ‘I’m not sure how things are going to play out. What should we do?’ – I’m not sure that ever played out.”

Gomes knows that something often comes up to change any plan – or at least change the question. But Miller threw a three-inning simulated game Tuesday afternoon, throwing approximately 50 pitches to Chris Taylor, Gavin Lux, Miguel Vargas and Class-A Rancho Cucamonga outfielder Juan Alonso.

Miller has been out since April 13 with shoulder inflammation but he is ready to start a minor-league injury rehabilitation assignment on Sunday with Rancho Cucamonga. He will make multiple starts before he is ready to rejoin the Dodgers’ rotation.

If Gomes’ projections prove false and nothing does change with the Dodgers’ current group of starting pitchers, they will be able to view a six-man rotation as an option. They rejected the idea coming out of spring training, instead using bullpen games, off days and spot starts like Knack’s most recent one on Sunday and Elieser Hernandez’s in San Francisco last week to serve as a sixth spot in the rotation and continue to give their starters at least five days of rest between starts.

“I think it’s ‘What does it look like in a couple weeks? How does the schedule match up? What place is the bullpen in?’ Gomes said of the consideration of a six-man rotation. “There’s so many different factors. We always talk about how we’re preparing for the next 30 (games). But it’s really just a framework. To look too far forward is foolish. (Pitching coach) Mark (Prior) and I talk all the time about, ‘If X and X and X happen – but, hey, you know what? We’re not going to have to worry about it.’”

The same objections to a six-man rotation still apply, Manager Dave Roberts indicated – primarily the fact that carrying six starters would take a reliever off the roster..

“I think we’re open to anything,” Roberts said. “It’s also appreciating the ’pen, I think most importantly, because then you’re going to a seven-man ’pen. There’s some guys that we’ve got to really try to take care of [with] usage, on back-to-backs, three out of four. Having Yarbs (Ryan Yarbrough) essentially as the one long guy, being mindful of that, too.”

So far this year, the Dodgers have had only two starting pitchers go on four days of rest – the standard for decades. But a six-man rotation creates the potential for too much down time between starts depending on off days on the schedule.

“I think we’ve done a really nice job of communicating and giving them five days off, sometimes six,” Roberts said. “And then you start to look at the calendar, and they don’t want seven days off.

“More is not always better, as far as rest. They want to get into a routine. Yamamoto is the only guy that’s used to pitching once a week.”

Planning won’t really “heat up” until Miller has progressed in his rehab assignment, Roberts said. And then he echoed Gomes.

“Fortunately (or) unfortunately, things seem to change,” Roberts said.

MUNCY STATUS

Third baseman Max Muncy took ground balls on the field during Tuesday’s pre-game workout and is expected to start hitting in the batting cages in the next two days. Muncy is on the IL with a mild oblique strain and will be eligible to return on Sunday.

Roberts said Muncy will go on a one- or two-game rehab assignment before he is ready to rejoin the Dodgers “some time next week.”

Kiké Hernandez has started six consecutive games at third base since Muncy’s injury and was 3 for 15 before Tuesday’s game.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks (RHP Ryne Nelson, 2-3, 7.06 ERA) at Dodgers (RHP Tyler Glasnow, 6-2, 2.90 ERA), Wednesday, 7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM